Case no. 003 · answered
The Great Lakes Fireball (1999-11-16)
Our engine flagged a 10-report burst it knew nothing about. It was a documented meteor. We publish our solved cases proudly — that's how you know the open ones mean something.
10
people described this on a single night. None of them were talking to each other.
What they kept saying: an orange orbvanishing suddenly
In their own words
Burtons Bridge, IL, 1999-11-16 · NUFORC archive“Horizon to horizon in 10 seconds. Fireball (short tail & enormous vapor trail).…”
Chicago, IL, 1999-11-16 · NUFORC archive“WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-90; OBJECT MOVED IN AN ARCH ACROSS THE HORIZON, SOUTH TO NORTH DIRECTION, MOSTLY WHITE IN COLOR. FROM MY P…”
Chicago, IL, 1999-11-16 · NUFORC archive“saw a bright white light, what appeared to be a type of firework missile, but this was different because of the intense brightness and…”
Aurora, IL, 1999-11-16 · NUFORC archive“Large "meteor". Greenish color at head. Sparkling tail, golden-flecked. Traveling in arching trajectory West to East out of sight.…”
Barrington, IL, 1999-11-16 · NUFORC archive“6:05PM CST. In my car driving south I see a ball of blue green light coming towards me. I stop my car.This ball stops over the road for…”
What the evidence shows
Points toward something real
- 10 reports, 7 places, same evening, consistent descriptions
Points the other way
Nothing yet that argues against the pattern. If you have something, send it.
Ordinary explanations people have offered
- RESOLVED: documented Nov 16 1999 Great Lakes fireball (meteor), widely observed and recorded
Still unanswered
Nothing. This one is closed.
The numbers behind this case
E-1999-11-16-42-88 · 1999-11-16 · 10 reports across 7 places · wording independence 0.789 · coherence 5.128
Wording independence near 1.0 means people described it in their own words. A low number means some accounts may be echoing each other, and we show it either way.
Were you there?
Or have you seen something like it somewhere else entirely? Either one helps, including the accounts that do not fit.
Tell us what you saw