spy satellite USA
193 has been in the news
lately because of
expectations that it
will reenter Earth's
atmosphere in March and
turn into a spectacular
fireball. Reentry has
not yet begun, but sky
watchers are already
noticing the satellite
as it zips over Europe
and the United States. Friedrich
Deters sends
this movie from
LaGrange, North
Carolina:
Click to view the
complete movie
The clip shows USA 193
rounding the horizon at
dawn on Feb. 10th. "This
was the first time I
could see the decaying
spy satellite," says
Deters who photographed
it using his Canon
Rebel XT.
"Too bad I couldn't
witness it actually
entering the atmosphere;
looks like it's
traveling pretty quick!"
In
fact, USA 193 may never
reenter--at least not in
one piece. Today, the
Pentagon announced plans to
blast the satellite with
a missile before its
orbit completely decays.
This would lessen the
chances of dangerous
satellite debris and
fuels reaching the
ground while increasing
the population of space
junk in low-Earth orbit.
Would you like to see
USA 193 with your own
eyes? It is about to
make a series of evening
appearances over many US
towns and cities,
beginning this weekend
and continuing until the
Pentagon intervenes.
Flyby timetables may be
found at Heavens
Above.
You can also receive
telephone and email
alerts when the
satellite is about to
fly over your backyard
by subscribing to Spaceweather
PHONE.
http://www.spaceweather.com