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Subscribe to RSSVideo of a pass of UARS satellite on Sept. 15, at an altitude of 250 kilometers, taken from the ground with a 14" telescope. More info at http://legault.perso.sfr.fr/uars_110915.html
When NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite descends from orbit, will we see it coming? Veteran French astrophotographer Thierry Legault has already seen it, using a 14-inch telescope. The ghostly video clip above shows the UARS satellite tumbling at an altitude of 155 miles (250 kilometers) on Sept. 15.
Legault teamed up with Emmanuel Reitsch to create the clip, using imagery from a Lumenera Skynyx L2-2 camera mounted on a Celestron EdgeHD 14-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope on an automated tracking system. When he includes the angle of observation, Legault figures that he got the shot from a distance of 200 miles (316 kilometers). The action in the clip has been sped up by a factor of two, compared with real time.
Here's an artist's conception of the satellite in orbit that may give you a better sense of what you're seeing in the video:
NASA
An artist's conception shows NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite in orbit.
The UARS satellite has been out of commission since 2005, and its orbit has been decaying since then. Two weeks ago, NASA alerted the world that the satellite's atmospheric re-entry was imminent. Today's forecast has the satellite making a fiery final fall on Friday, plus or minus one day. An estimated two dozen pieces of debris, including a roughly 300-pound (150-kilogram) chunk, could rain down anywhere in latitude between northern Canada and the tip of South America. NASA can't be more precise than that right now because there's no way to control the satellite's descent.
That makes the situation sound a bit scarier than it really is: Because our planet has so many empty expanses of land and sea, NASA's orbital debris experts say there's just a 1-in-3,200 chance that any of the debris will hit anybody. That translates to a 1-in-21 trillion chance that any one particular person (you, for instance) would be struck. As it gets closer to re-entry time, NASA expects that the predictions for the debris zone will get more precise.
For updates, check NASA's UARS status page and our Space News section. Today's story focuses on how prepared the Federal Emergency Management Agency is in case the satellite re-enters over U.S. territory. Feel free to discuss the satellite's imminent fall in the comment section below — but whatever you do, DON'T PANIC!
More wonders from Thierry Legault:
- Last looks at the shuttle in orbit
- Spaceships get their day in the sun
- Sun gets double-crossed
- Still more from Legault's website
Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter or adding me to your Google+ circle. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for other worlds.
Leave a Comment:
UARS one doomed mutha.
Its either UARS or MYARS that's doomed. We better take cover.
Now that's funny! Good one Tony. Two thumbs up. MYARS is covered, how about UARS?
(posted from an undisclosed, safe location, move over Dick, you're hogging the shelter)
I'm scared that MYARS is in jeopardy. I don't have a good shelter location. Always cover UARS.
URARSES need not worry.
I worry about it hitting me, but I guess it's just me being a DUMARS again.
Another winner, you are hot today Tony.
LOL, ok all out of ARS lines.
Thank you
Me too...but, will UARS hit any HUARS?
OMG you gentleman are hilarious!!! Nice to lighten up the situation... :D
Now I'm hearing that UARS is coming at me again! Will you get off MYARS?
I just did some research. Apparently my homeowner's insurance does NOT COVER damage from falling space debris. It is classified under an "ACT OF MAN".
So if someone throws a boulder on my roof insurance doesn't cover it? I hate insurance companies.
Track it yourself and take note of the rate of decay daily.
Just google Real Time Satellite Tracking...they don't seem to allow links to be posted here.
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=21701
Dear Alan Boyle. You are completely out of touch with how to use the word "ghostly" in a sentence. Please go to college and take 1000 level journalism and writing classes before getting back on the internet.
UARS, are a loser !
1000 level class? do you mean 100 level class?
Alan, pay no heed to this notion that "ghostly" was used inappropriately in your description of this rather surreal-looking satellite tumbling towards earth. I actually found that description spot on. A white shrouded blur morphing continuously as it moves. Pretty much the poster child of something "ghostly".
I hope you're not trying to speak as a person who's seen a lot of ghosts. If that's the case then I believe there might be a medication bottle somewhere with your name on it.
UARS a loosa
Kyleortonsarm, meet MYARS.
To Kyleortonsarm,
Is that stick up UARS a little high???
Sorry Mike had to steal your line :/
Kyleortonsarm
Oh, no my dear boy. I've never seen a ghost. Don't be silly. But I am literate and have read words and sentences and paragraphs and pages and (here's where it gets tricky so stay with me).....books! You should try it - it's phantastic.
Currently it is 215 kms up. It dropped 35 Kms in 5 days
It must be nearing apogee now, because it's 227km presently and climbing (141 miles) a 1/2 hour ago it was down to 121 miles. So it's definitely in a skewed orbit. Won't be long. Once it gets down to 75 miles, that's when the upper atmosphere will begin causing friction and rapid deceleration.
Yes. Take note of where the lowest point is. As of 5am MDT it was still 215 K over S. America
Lowest point, now, is about 120 miles. But we shouldn't panic? The sky is falling and chicken little is no where to be found.
Use metric will ya ?
"Don't Panic"....
I'd laugh if it breaks into 42 pieces... :)
Good thing me and Dick are in this safe, undisclosed location. We'll probably survive the demolition beams, huh Dick.
Wait a minute....stuck on earth....alone....with Dick Cheney.
LET ME OUT OF HERE, LET ME OUT, NOW! I DON'T WANT TO LIVE!
LET ME OUT!
I would love a chunk to fall on my property without hurting anyone. Maybe I would recognize something I built as a machinist at Lockheed.
Maybe you could sell it on ebay!
Heeeey, I could get some old auto parts, burn 'em up with a welding torch and sell 'em on EBAY....yeah....that's it.....
Bad thing about that, Skip--is the gubmint would be knockin' on yer door, rippin' yer house apart FIRST, without needing to even tell you why--then when they were done and realized the pieces you had were torched auto parts, they would then arrest you based on misleading the federal gubmint on a wild goose chase and charge you large amounts of fees for their 'trouble.'
You seriously don't wanna do that! lmao.
Salvage law has as a basis that a salvor should be rewarded for risking his life and property to rescue the property of another from peril. Salvage law is in some ways similar to the wartime law of prize, the capture, condemnation and sale of a vessel and its cargo as a spoil of war, insofar as both compensate the salvor/captors for risking life and property.[3] The two areas of law may dovetail. For instance, a vessel taken as a prize, then recaptured by friendly forces on its way to the prize adjudication, is not deemed a prize of the rescuers (title merely reverts to the original owner). But the rescuing vessel is entitled to a claim for salvage.[4] Likewise a vessel found badly damaged, abandoned and adrift after enemy fire disabled her does not become a prize of a rescuing friendly vessel, but the rescuers may claim salvage.[5]
A vessel is considered in peril if it is in danger or could become in danger. Examples of a vessel in peril are when it is aground or in danger of going aground. Prior to a salvage attempt the salvor receives permission from the owner or the master to assist the vessel. If the vessel is abandoned no permission is needed.
I found that in wikiland....one thing is obvious the "vesel" is both damaged and abandoned......I know WE claim it is us govt property...but damit..the thing is out of control, it is about time we take control of the situation and tell the govt that they are responsible....after all they relentlessly tell us that,and they are at the point where THEY charge for ski and hiker mishap rescues etc...well quid pro quo...bro.....
All that being said, this one is a poignant example of why a debris task force may be a good idea, although I despise the concept of yet another bueracratic monetary black hole....surely it could just be tasked to some existing group that can get the job done, like the usaf space command....no doubt they are not keen to volunteer...anyways, one of a thousand concepts in this case would be to lauch something akin to the mini shuttle as a uav and force deorbit...I know that is the understatement of the year. The fact remains, that we have little or no scientific data on lasar ablation for redirecting space bourne objects, this is something probably should change. I am not advocating space weaponery (god forbid they resurrect reagans starwars and associated budget) but rather "tools" that could be used for deflecting and or redirecting space debris. In fact I have commented before that such technology is surely a milestone in an advanced civilizations course of advancement....don't reach this goal, and nature again points up the folly of man. Personally, left to my own devices, I would launch a series of smaller spacecraft via bunches of weather ballons that at around 100km detach and take uav ai flight up to the wayward peice of junk, perhaps gathering extra fuel en route, attach to the wayward junker as a flotillia and either hoist it on further hither (moon bound) OR bring it on in for a controlled splash down...knowing full well my mantra...real space ships DO NOT BOUNCE!. oh well, nothing is impossible, and imporbable is more a matter of focus, or lack thereof. To wit, our current leadership in space.
Hi Ray- don't lament Star Wars too much- it cost a total of $30 Billion dollars, about half of what teenagers spend on DVDs and CDs every year.
Ronnie may have had his faults, but he did eliminate the Soviet "Union", and his reign was a lot better than Carters, who gutted the CIA, and who ran us into 21% inflation with an 18% prime rate, not to mention making us the laughing stock of the world.....
Back on subject, I'd like to have a chunk too, as long as it didn't remodel the house or land in my lap.
"click" IGNORE.
Update:
Latest calculations have it crashing at the following coordinates:
N 29° 33' 40.5468", W 95° 5' 37.3776"
Anyone living around the area should take a long weekend, as usual.
LMAO!!! GOOD ONE!!!
Why not panick? It seems odd that the common people should not fear objects crashing down around them at high rates of speed.
Congress is sending more tax dollars to the satellite to keep it in orbit another 13.5 months.
Just wait for the ISS starts its desent. Since the shuttle was decommisioned the engines on Soyoz and the ISS are not strong enough to push it into a higher orbit. It is in fact desending as you read this. Since it has all those solar panels that act as air dams it will slow earlier because less air is required to slow it down and viola we will be reading about the ISS coming down and bigger chunks of it will survive the re-entry.
False, the ISS has plenty of power to stay in orbit as long as it is fueled. If anything, I would hope that we could maybe put the ISS out to one of the Lagrange points instead of de-orbiting the whole thing.
I'm not an expert on rocket fuel and propulsion needs, but I believe that lifting the entire ISS out to even the nearest of the Lagrange points (between the moon and Earth) would require massive amounts of fuel. It's simply not practical to do.
Frank
a viola is a stringed instrument
voila is the term used when calling attention to something
Don't panic? No worries, I have my towel with me.
So? Ya gonna skrub one off?
Any excuse for a scrubbing. Now falling satellites create a reason.
They've been showing pictures depicting Earth surrounded by tons of space junk, how come only this one satellite is falling, or is there something we don't know. Also Comet Elenin is said to be getting closer to Earth and will be at its closest point on September 27th, causing additional increases in seismic activity. I want to hear what Dr. Michio Kaku thinks about Elenin. Will somebody please interview him!!!
How much of your post is completely fantasized? Hmm lets see.
Michio Kaku, ah, ti kaka ovo ela, Michio Kaku.
It's all coming down chickenlittle , slowly but surely
Most of it is tiny bits of insignificant debris that will burn up on re-entry
This just happens to be a large item
Don't you remember when Mir came down and it's toilet seat killed some girl in Vancouver and she became a Grim Reaper (Dead Like Me)
Then there was the sattelite that came down in Cicely Alaska and killed a guy. They couldn't figure where the sattelite ended and the guy began so buried the two together. The casket was something to see. (Northern Exposure)
Will my tin foil hat keep it from falling on my head?
No actually it will attract it to your exact location. I made Dick take his off before he entered our undisclosed safe location.
The sales man said I would be safe from all space anomalies. I guess I took it to mean falling satellites as well. That's it, I'm going to return it for a full refund.
*definitely* time to break out the tin foil hats! :-)
I'm hearing it may not hit N. America. The hat may have worked after all.
we have been wanting to visit the Johnson Space Flight Center. We better hurry. ad'M's calculation is a little off, the debris won't land in the empty field, it will disrupt the Museum.
The odds of 1:3,200 are so small that it is now likely some of the debris will hit someone. Just think about it. Your odds of winning the lottery are 1:320,000,000. This is one thousand times more likely to hit someone, and someone wins the lottery almost every couple months. You don't even get to keep the parts that hit you, your house, car or boat. Why didn't NASA use the space shuttle to go retrieve this thing before somebody gets hurt?
DOH! Dick, why didn't you think of that when you were President?
Mathuin. That 1-in-3,200 number is actually the chance that anything will hit anybody. The number that's the best analogy to a lottery win is 1-in-20 trillion (OK, some folks say 21 trillion, but I'm rounding). What's the chance that *someone* will win the lottery? It might be 1 in 10. The chance that someone will win a raffle drawing, to cite another example, is 1 out of 1.
@mathuin- you ALMOST have it right. 1:3,200 is the chance that it could hit ANY of the individuals on earth. 1:175million is roughly the chance a single, specific person has to win the MegaMillions lotto. The probability of it hitting a single, specific individual is 1:{3200 x 6.96 billion people}, or roughly 1:22trillion. So if you think the satellite might hit you, definitely go play the lottery.
I just won the lotto. 1st thing on 'buy list' is a concrete bunker!!!
The Chinese government should be hired to shoot down this satellite over an uninhabited area, like a desert or ocean. The Chinese proved in 2007 they have the rocket technology to make a perfect hit on a satellite in space; unfortunately the U.S. tried several times to shoot down satellites, but kept missing. . .
"shooting it down" would just create a giant cloud of debris that might stay in orbit longer.
All right, fine; no panicing. But how about looting? Can we start looting?
Yeah, let the looting begin. Hey, Dick, what's your address?
All those who would like the satellite to land on Kyleortonsarm's head, please raise your hand.
Thank you, Mr. Boyle...
Anyone else?
Yeah, count me and Dick in favor of that.
I like the part where that big ghostly panel appears and disappears
Something rather large came streaking across the sky this morning approximately 7:20am MST in SW Colorado coming from the SSE and heading NNE over the weimenuche wilderness. My daughter spotted it while waiting for the school bus. I am wondering if anyone knows what we saw and if it was a part of this satellite? Or something else? My daughter is in Kindergarten and I told her I would track down the info on what we saw and tell her when she gets home from school today. Any help would be appreciated...Thanks!
LAT 38.895308, LON -77.036648 would be a good place for the debris field to hit.
Why isn't the USAF vaporizing the satelite with their experimental Lazer !
I'm not worried, if it hits me i will never have to worry about paying taxes again and if it lands in my yard and i survive, hey i might get rich charging for doing interviews on the various tv tall shows. might as well sit back and watch the light show and laugh at the posting about it.