COLLIDING SATELLITES: Experts are calling it an "unprecedented event." Two large satellites have collided in Earth orbit.
Kosmos 2251 crashed into
Iridium 33 on Tuesday, Feb. 10th, approximately 800 km over northern Siberia; both were destroyed. The resulting clouds of debris contain more than 500 fragments, significantly increasing the orbital debris population at altitudes where the collision occurred. The Air Force Space Surveillance Radar is monitoring the clouds as they pass over the radar facility in Texas. We, in turn, are monitoring signals from the radar and you may be able to hear debris "pings" by tuning in to our live audio feed. This is a story that will unfold in the days ahead as researchers study the evolution of the debris clouds and piece together the details of the collision.
FOSSIL SUNSPOT: A sunspot is emerging near the sun's eastern limb. The spot's low latitude and magnetic polarity identify it as a fossil from old Solar Cycle 23. This breaks a string of 23 consecutive spotless days beginning on Jan. 20th. If you have a solar telescope, take a look.
For more about the skies, check out
SpaceWeather.comAnd keep looking up!
1 comment:
Anything the size of a softball or larger is being tracked and monitored at all times, but anything smaller is not. It doesn't take much to do real damage to a satellite or more importantly to a space craft.
Debbie Hamilton
Right Truth
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