Large green fireball — multiple witnesses, Socorro area (Jan 30 1949)

On 30 January 1949 at 17:54 MST, a very bright fireball was observed by several thousand persons across New Mexico and West Texas. Dr. LaPaz determined from ground surveys and eyewitness interviews that the fireball appeared at approximately 12 miles altitude over 34°N 102°5'W and disappeared at approximately 8 miles altitude over 32°48'N 102°22'W, traversing a nearly horizontal path of approximately 143 miles at 8–14 miles per second. The object was the brightest fireball LaPaz had observed in the prior quarter-century, yet produced no meteoritic detonations or long rumblings. Nearer-path observers reported colors of blue, orange, red, and purple rather than the typical green.

“"It has been possible to determine that the January 30th fireball became visible at an altitude of approximately twelve miles over a point at latitude 34° longitude 102° 5', and disappeared at an altitude of approximately eight miles over a point at latitude 32° 48', longitude 102° 22', after traversing a nearly horizontal path approximately 143 miles long at a velocity of from 8 to fourteen miles per second." LaPaz: "the fireball of January 30th is the only one of the anomalous luminous objects under investigation which gives any indication of having been a meteorite fall."”

Extensively documented by LaPaz ground survey, air search, and interviews across NM and TX. Path coordinates given explicitly in text. Speed midpoint ~11 mi/s ≈ 39,600 mph; altitude converted from miles (12 mi = 63,360 ft start; 8 mi = 42,240 ft end—start altitude used). LaPaz assessed this was the most likely genuine meteorite fall among the anomalous fireball series, but also noted all other anomalous features (no sound, no detonations, near-horizontal path). Ground search and air search found no meteorite fragments.