Large Meteor Breakup (2011.09.30)

A wide field meteor camera at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center recorded this spectacular meteor breaking up in Earth's atmosphere on Sept. 30, 2011, 8:37 p.m. EDT. Also visible is a star-like object moving slowly toward the upper middle of the field of view -- the upper stage of the Zenit booster that launched the Russian Cosmos 2219 intelligence satellite back in 1992. Orbiting 500 miles above Earth, this empty rocket body can get bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye.




credit: NASA

source: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videog...

• Category

  Science & Technology

[abennia]

Tumblr brought me here.

[mookmerkin1]

Possibly Sara Palin's presidential aspirations?

[luizotaviocfg]

What the fuck is that point moving on the right of the meteor? 

[Brandon Deel]

thats what a shooting star is...

[bradXshuffle]

derp

[Robyn Tallis]

It looks like a shooting star!!!!!!

[Ben H]

Lol my mate lives in ebbw vale in wales and she said she sees a lot, im from birmingham so cant see much with light pollution etc but i saw one tonight aswell, can tell the difference between planes and saterlites* lol

[SwanseaJackInTheBox]

If you think that sounds nerdy get a load of this... The moving 'star' is "the upper stage of the Zenit booster that launched the Russian Cosmos 2219 intelligence satellite back in 1992". Or at least that's what it says in the description. But you're right I see satellites all the time here in south Wales too. Also the ISS.There are websites that have live tracking of them and you can take your laptop outside and watch it go overhead. Yes I've done that. Now isn't that nerdy! lol

[Ben H]

Its a saterlite, sometimes if i just lie down in the garden and star at the sky i can sometimes see them, try it just stare at the stars you sed everything, sounds nerdy but everyone knows its interesting lol can sometimes see the space station, i live in middle of england and i can still see most stuff

[Ben H]

Lmao i saw one tonight sortoff the same, just didnt break up, travelled accross the sky for about 3/4 seconds was amazed, all my mates saw it!

[Ben H]

Saw one similar today!!!