THE MILLMAN FIREBALL ARCHIVE
Martin Beech · Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada · 2003
The Millman Fireball Archive is a collection of 3876 report cards relating to 2129 visually-observed fireball meteors, seen from across Canada in the time interval 1962 to 1989. We provide an overview of the origin of the archive and present tables describing the monthly and yearly fireball numbers. We also present a selection of statistical results relating to fireball sounds (both sonic and simultaneous), finding that approximately one in fifteen of the observed fireball events was identified as producing some distinctive sound phenomenon. It is found that if sonic booms are associated with a given fireball event then some 12.8 ± 9.0 percent of the reports note the occurrence; if simultaneous sounds are associated with a fireball then 5.7 ± 1.8 percent of the reports acknowledge its detection. In addition, a comparison between the visually observed fireballs and the MORP camera survey results reveals that on average the visual observers recorded about one in five of the photographed fireball events. Finally, we find that a remarkably good, linear relationship exists between the average number of fireball events recorded per year and population density. As oft along the still and pure serene, At nightfall glides a sudden trail of fire, Attracting with involuntary heed, The eye to follow it, ere while it rest, And seems some star that shifted place in heaven