Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science
METEORITE FALLS

GLENDALE, ARIZONA

GLENDALE, ARIZONA

GLENDALE, ARIZONA

DATE/TIME

7/26/2018 @ 8:22 PM

7/26/2018
8:22 PM

LAT/LONG

33.683881 • -112.222128

33.683881
-112.222128

This is an estimated landing site map for this fall, color coded according to mass. Red is kg-mass meteorites, scaling down to yellow single-gram stones.

STREWN FIELD

This is an estimated landing site map for this fall, color coded according to mass. Red is kg-mass meteorites, scaling down to yellow single-gram stones.

SUMMARY

This meteorite fall was a fireball that occurred at 8:22 PM local time on 26 July 2018, or 03:22:50 on 27 Jul 2018 UTC. Weather in the area was generally rainy with localized storms, which decreased the number of eyewitness reports because cloud cover reduced visibility and the flashes from the fireball were mistaken for lightning. As a result, only twelve eyewitnesses reported it to the American Meteor Society across central Arizona. One eyewitness in north-central Phoenix reported hearing sonic booms from the falling meteorites.

This meteorite fall has not received an official name from the Meteoritical Society Nomenclature Committee, and is provisionally referred to here as the Glendale, AZ fall. One meteorite has been recovered from this event so far.

This event is recorded as American Meteor Society event number 2624 for year 2018. Signatures of falling meteorites can be found in imagery from two nearby weather radars. In the NEXRAD weather radar network operated by NOAA, the KIWA (Phoenix, AZ) recorded the fall. The airport radar for Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (TPHX) also recorded signatures of falling meteorites.

The first appearance of falling meteorites on radar occurs at 03:27:24 UTC and 3,710 m above sea level (ASL) in the 0324 UTC data set for the KIWA radar in the 2.4 degree elevation radar sweep. Signatures consistent with falling meteorites appear in a total of two radar sweeps from the two radars, with a final signature appearing at 03:27:37 UTC. Several other possible signatures of falling meteorites are visible in subsequent radar sweeps, but they are not clearly distinct from the local weather. With only two radar sweep data points, it is not possible to generate any mass estimates for this meteorite fall.

Meteorites recovered from this event and classification is pending.

LEARN MORE

RADAR & MAPS

This composite image shows all the radar signatures from falling meteorites as green and blue/gray polygons. Blue/gray data is from the NEXRAD radar, and green data is from the TPHX airport radar.

RADAR SUMMARY

This composite image shows all the radar signatures from falling meteorites as green and blue/gray polygons. Blue/gray data is from the NEXRAD radar, and green data is from the TPHX airport radar.

GET DIRECTIONS

Click on the View larger map link that is displayed in the address box above in order to get directions to the strewn field area.

EVENTS TO DATE

Learn more about other fall events and possible landing sites that have been identified across the United States.

EVENT UPDATES

Find out more about recent searches and possible discoveries that have taken place around the United States.

METEORITES 101

This step-by-step guide will show you how to locate possible meteorite fall sites using radar software and weather data along with info provided by reporting agencies and monitoring systems.
These instructions will show you how to best preserve the meteorites you discover and how to make contact with the organizations that are willing to accept and analyze your find.
Don't know exactly what a meteorite is, what they are made of or where they come from? If that's the case, we have provided a mini-"crash" course in what you need to know about them.
It turns out that meteorites have provided us a lot of scientific insight, not only into the origins of our solar system and planet Earth, but what the future might hold for mankind.
There's a lot going on in the study of meteorites, both here at NASA and in other places. Here are a few links to the people and institutions who are leading the research in this field.
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