i saw a shooting star about the size of a quarter at arms length and last about 3 seconds. How common is that?

Question

I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The shooting star lasted about 3 seconds before it exploded in the sky giving off a pretty bright flash. It actually scared me there for a second considering how big it was.

Answer 1

Actually, a quarter at arm's length is about four times the diameter of the moon, which leads me to believe you seriously overestimated its size. Very bright objects seem larger than they actually are. Common error.
I am guessing, with the others, that it was a meteor. Or as one person said, a fireball. And yes, sometimes they disintegrate in a big burst. You're lucky to have seen it. There's a good chance you won't see another one that good for the rest of your life. Some people have even reported hearing sound from these, but I have never heard one. I've seen three pretty impressive fireballs in my lifetime.

Answer 2

If it only lasted three seconds, then the size was that of the air being heated by ram pressure just ahead of the rock itself. Thousands of degrees inside a shock wave that wraps itself around the front of the rock.

The rock itself is ablated by the air (something like being sanded away) very rapidly but it does not burn. When it does break up, the individual pieces (by then very small) may heat up and glow.

I am not an active meteor observer, but I do keep my eyes open when the sky is clear. I see something this bright (with a split or an 'explosion') two or three times a year.

Answer 3

not common. impossible is more like it. no shooting star could be the size of a quarter at arms length

Answer 4

That is about the size of a full moon which seems unlikely but I'm sure it was spectacular... you're lucky!

Answer 5

Not common at all. Probably what is called a Fireball

Answer 6

I'm sorry to tell you this but it really was a quarter.

Answer 7

Really,really rare.