On Monday morning, 2014 January 27, several observers in the Western Cape reported seeing a fireball. Observations are being collated by Tim Cooper, who provided this interim summary:
Dudley Field, travelling east near Philadelphia, 05h24 SAST, duration 2-3 seconds, speed slow-medium, white to greenish colour, mag -5 to -6, much brighter than Venus. Left a trail, which did not last long. Fragmented into three pieces just above Paarl Mountains as seen from his point of view. Commented ‘It was still pretty dark, the surrounding veld was not yet visible’.
Anja Brand, observed from Hermanus, 05h25 SAST, very bright burning appearance, duration 5-6 seconds, bright white colour, left a persistent train, no fragmentation. Commented ‘It was the most amazing light I have ever witnessed in the sky. Wish I could have taken a photograph of it.’
Peter Logue, observed from Fish Hoek, 05h25 SAST, very bright, duration 4-5 seconds, red/orange with bluish tinge, 2-3 second persistent train, no fragmentation. Commented ‘sky was lightish before sunrise so it was easy to see and so large’.
Nico Esterhuyse, observed from Kraaifontein, 05h25 SAST, very bright, duration 3 seconds, red/yellow/white colours observed, left a persistent train, no fragmentation. Commented ‘smoke after the ball slowly disappeared’.