Preliminary inquiries indicate that the "fireball" that was seen last week was
a fast-moving meteor that weighed more than 100 pounds.
Dr. E. P. Argylle, federal astronomer
who made the estimate, emphasized in an interview Sunday that it was subject
to change after careful analysis of information acquired and yet-to-be
acquired.
But with that qualification, he
estimated that the meteor was fast moving, fell at a fairly steep angle and
continued to burn to an extremely low altitude.
NEAR SICAMOUS
It may have hit the ground at
supersonic velocity that would make a crater. It probably fell near Sicamous,
60 miles east of Kamloops, B.C. Its light was in the neighborhood of
10,000,000,000 candle power.
Dr. Argylle said the ordinary
"shooting star" seen high in the sky is a meteor about the size of a grain of
sand with 10,000 candle power of light.
Dr. Argylle and Dr. John GaIt, both
of the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory at White Lake near here,
conducted about 100 interviews during the weekend in seeking information that
would give the approximate area of the fall.
At the same time the two compared
notes with a University of Alberta team from Edmonton that was also
investigating the fireball.
SEARCH PARTY
Dr. Argylle said after more
interviews all information will be analyzed and a decision will be made
whether there is enough data to warrant a search party. The party would
consist of persons from the Universities of B.C. and Alberta and the
observatory.
American and Canadian officials have
discounted earlier theories that the fireball was an American satellite
re-entering the atmosphere.
HOMEPAGE