| ID | #1632760299 |
| Added | Mon, 27/09/2021 |
| Author | July N. |
| Sources | The Tampa Morning Tribune
|
| Phenomena | |
| Status | Research
|
Initial data
November 9 - (AP)-While residents of the Southwest were comparing notes with bulging eyes, today scientific groups were trying to track down double fireballs near the Mexican border.
Yesterday, just before noon, visible meteors flashed in the sky. Ground observers and pilots, some momentarily blinded, observed the phenomenon from points up to 350 miles away. One eyewitness was reported about 100 miles south of the international border in Chihuahua, Mexico.
There were very contradictory estimates of where the objects fell to the ground.
The rating agency for meteorites said that the frequency of the appearance of fireballs in recent times - the last ones were Nos. 6 and 7 for an 11-day period - "has no analogues in the entire recorded history."
This observation was made by Dr. Lincoln La Paz, who is engaged in the excavation of meteorites as the head of the Meteoritics Institute of the University of New Mexico. He said that usually once every three out of four months.
"Such a case of two meteorites falling without noise would be difficult to repeat in history," La Paz said.
"I just don't know what to do about it," he added. "I'm almost inclined to ask these guys in Nevada (where the atomic bomb tests were recently conducted) what they are doing."
In Washington, a representative of the Ministry of Defense said that at the time when the flying objects were spotted, the ministry was not aware of any tests in the Southwest.
According to reports, one or both of yesterday's objects crashed to the ground near Cloverdale, New Mexico. This is a small ranch north of the Mexican border and in the extreme southwest corner of the state.
At least two other witnesses estimated that the shiny objects crashed near such distant points as Sierra Blanca, Texas, and Guzman, Chihuahua.
Original news
The Tampa Morning Tribune
Tampa, Florida, MORNING TRIBUNE, 10 November 1951, page 7
Southwest Goggle-Eyed Over Twin 'Fireballs'
ALBUQUERQUE, Nov. 9 - (AP) - While goggle-eyed Southwesterners compared notes, scientific parties sought today to track down twin fireballs near the Mexican border.
The apparent meteors blazed through the sky shortly before noon yesterday. Ground observers and fliers, some blinded momentarily, viewed the phenomena from points as much as 350 miles apart. One eyewitness report came from nearly 100 miles south of the international boundary in Chihuahua, Mexico.
There were widely conflicting estimates of where the objects crashed to earth.
A ranking authority on meteors said recent frequency of the fireballs - the latest were Nos. 6 and 7 in an 11-day period - is "without parallel in the whole of recorded history."
This observation came from Dr. Lincoln La Paz, who makes a business of digging up meteorites as head of the Institute of Meteoritics at the University of New Mexico here. He said the normal rate is one every three of four months.
"Such a case of two meterorites falling together without noise would be hard to duplicate in history," La Paz said.
"I just don't know what to make of it," he added. "I'm almost inclined to ask those fellows out in Nevada (where atom bomb tests have been held recently) what they are doing."
In Washington a Defense Department spokesman said the department knew nothing of any tests in the Southwest at the time the flying objects were seen.
Accounts indicated one or both of yesterday's objects jolted to earth with a roar near Cloverdale, N. M. This is a small ranch community just north of the Mexican border and in the extreme southwest corner of the state.
At least two other witnesses estimated the brilliant objects crashed near such widely separated points as Sierra Blanca, Texas, and Guzman, Chihuahua.
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