DUARS Satellite Re-Entry: Impressive Light Show & Potential Debris Threat

AI Thread Summary
The UARS satellite is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere this weekend, moving faster than initially predicted. NASA estimates a 1-in-3200 chance of debris hitting someone on the ground, although this statistic is misleading as it reflects the likelihood of at least one person being hit globally. The satellite's trajectory covers a wide area, but the strike zone will narrow as the re-entry date approaches. Discussions among forum members include humorous suggestions for safety and the potential for an impressive light show during the satellite's descent. Overall, while the risk exists, the probability of any specific individual being struck remains extremely low.
  • #201
That's 325,000 km from Kansas.
 
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  • #202
Jimmy Snyder said:
That's 325,000 km from Kansas.

Funny Jimmy, Wait... there's Evo... The gattling banning gun is blazing... pushes Jimmy safely out of the way and dives for the nearest boulder... Wait my boulder is disintegrating... Jimmy distracts her just in time, and ducks for cover just as the belt of ammo runs out... Whew, that was close...

Rhody... man... shivering and shaking... :eek: :cry:
 
  • #203
Jimmy Snyder said:
That's 325,000 km from Kansas.

You do realize that it will actually miss Kansas by only 0.00000003435 light years, don't you?

That's an uncomfortably small number! I'd feel a lot better if we measured it's approach in angstroms!
 
  • #204
Here she http://www.gmanews.tv/story/237322/world/nasa-readies-for-november-asteroid-flyby", sorry Evo...
According to NASA, the 400-meter asteroid is a science target of opportunity, which would let instruments on " spacecraft Earth" scan it during the close pass.

It said it will track the asteroid starting at 9:30 a.m. local time (PDT) on Nov. 4, using a massive 70-meter Deep Space Network antenna, for about two hours.

Goldstone will continue tracking the asteroid for at least four hours each day from Nov. 6 through Nov. 10.

Radar observations from the Arecibo Planetary Radar Facility in Puerto Rico will begin on Nov. 8, the same day the asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth at 3:28 p.m. PST.

and

Arecibo radar observations of asteroid 2005 YU55 made in 2010 show it to be approximately spherical in shape.

It is slowly spinning, with a rotation period of about 18 hours. The asteroid's surface is darker than charcoal at optical wavelengths.

"Amateur astronomers who want to get a glimpse at 2005 YU55 will need a telescope with an aperture of six inches (15 centimeters) or larger," NASA said. — LBG, GMA

Rhody...
 
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  • #206
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  • #207
I want to see this meteor.

tomorrow when the meteor goes by, I would like to see it. I know it will be passing most closely to Earth at 6:28 pm my local time. My question is, do I just go outside and look up? Should I look in a certain direction? Will I be able to see it at all? (from Florida) what should I expect it to look like?
 
  • #208


ArcanaNoir said:
tomorrow when the meteor goes by, I would like to see it. I know it will be passing most closely to Earth at 6:28 pm my local time. My question is, do I just go outside and look up? Should I look in a certain direction? Will I be able to see it at all? (from Florida) what should I expect it to look like?

Not without a 6 inch scope and a helping of luck.
 
  • #209
You're going to look pretty foolish when that asteroid comes barrelling down your telescope right into your eye.
 
  • #210


DaveC426913 said:
Not without a 6 inch scope and a helping of luck.

Really? How disappointing!
 
  • #211
Jimmy Snyder said:
You're going to look pretty foolish when that asteroid comes barrelling down your telescope right into your eye.
It is the size of a locomotive, choo choo choo...

Rhody... o:)

Poor Evo, our official "End of Days" magnet... sigh...
 
  • #212
rhody said:
It is the size of a locomotive, choo choo choo...
That's why there's a lower limit on the diameter of the telescope.
 
  • #213
Hope your luck is sill running Evo.

At 13.2 metric tons (14.6 tons), the Phobos-Ground is one of the heaviest spacecraft ever to plummet to Earth, considerably larger than the two defunct satellites that fell to Earth last fall and landed in the water.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gy6Nvaqpn7_3CE4SVmtqblQKdvlg?docId=076fafc9fafa4d5592ecb49561dcb544
 
  • #214
dlgoff said:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gy6Nvaqpn7_3CE4SVmtqblQKdvlg?docId=076fafc9fafa4d5592ecb49561dcb544
From the article, "There is no reason to panic."

There seems to be a missing a qualifier here. It should have said "There is no reason to panic if you don't live close to Evo."
 
  • #215
dlgoff said:
Hope your luck is sill running Evo.



http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gy6Nvaqpn7_3CE4SVmtqblQKdvlg?docId=076fafc9fafa4d5592ecb49561dcb544
You think they'd find another company?

Phobos-Ground marked Russia's first planned foray beyond Earth's orbit since a botched 1996 robotic mission to Mars. That probe, designed by the same Lavochkin company, crashed shortly after launch due to an engine failure. The firm also built two other Phobos-bound probes that failed in 1988.

D H said:
From the article, "There is no reason to panic."

There seems to be a missing a qualifier here. It should have said "There is no reason to panic if you don't live close to Evo."
I don't have a good track record. A satellite is one of the few things I haven't been hit by...yet.
 
  • #216
Take care Evo, this one is headed for the Mars plant in Topeka.
 
  • #217
Jimmy Snyder said:
Take care Evo, this one is headed for the Mars plant in Topeka.
:smile:
 
  • #218
D H said:
From the article, "There is no reason to panic."

There seems to be a missing a qualifier here. It should have said "There is no reason to panic if you don't live close to Evo."

Jimmy Snyder said:
Take care Evo, this one is headed for the Mars plant in Topeka.

Oh crap. I'm located between Evo and Topeka.
 
  • #219
dlgoff said:
Oh crap. I'm located between Evo and Topeka.
You might want to check your insurance policies. Just sayin'.
 
  • #220
The good news is that if we ever have a potentially hazardous object on a collision course, we can save the planet by jettisoning Evo into space. :biggrin:
 
  • #221
jhae2.718 said:
The good news is that if we ever have a potentially hazardous object on a collision course, we can save the planet by jettisoning Evo into space. :biggrin:
Buwahahahah!

Oh, wait... :rolleyes:
 
  • #222
*hides before Evo can reach the banning gun*
 
  • #223
jhae2.718 said:
*hides before Evo can reach the banning gun*
You are a smart person, but you will slip up..eventually :devil:
 
  • #224
Rought roh... http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/01/21/giant-solar-flare-may-spark-auroras-tonight-across-u-s/ we go again, but instead of junk it's plasma this time, be sure to look north tonight, maybe to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis.

Rhody...

P.S. Stay low and move fast jh jinking as you run. Keep a small supply to stones to misdirect Evo's aim, it worked for me in the past. :redface:
 
  • #225
Heads up. Be careful which bus you get on Friday.

Asteroid Evo.
 
  • #226
Jimmy Snyder said:
Heads up. Be careful which bus you get on Friday.

Asteroid Evo.
It missed. It means there's still one out there with my name on it. :frown:
 
  • #227
Evo said:
It missed. It means there's still one out there with my name on it. :frown:

I'm thinking I may have to put some distance between us. :rolleyes:
 
  • #228
dlgoff said:
I'm thinking I may have to put some distance between us. :rolleyes:
:cry:
 
  • #229
I can't get any farther east unless I go to Canada! Whaaa!
 
  • #230
Whispers to the others: let's get her and shoot her into space. That'll rid us of asteroids.

Oh hai, Evo! :-p
 
  • #231
micromass said:
Whispers to the others: let's get her and shoot her into space. That'll rid us of asteroids.

Oh hai, Evo! :-p
Et tu micro? :frown:
 
  • #232
Evo said:
Et tu micro? :frown:

I'm nice :biggrin:

I understand you're a bit worried. Just take a seat over here. What is that?? This seat looks like a rocket?? Nooooo, you're just a bit tired.
Just sit down a take a little nap, I'm going to close the rocket door *cough* I mean bedroom door.

OK guys, launch it!
 
  • #233
micromass said:
I'm nice :biggrin:

I understand you're a bit worried. Just take a seat over here. What is that?? This seat looks like a rocket?? Nooooo, you're just a bit tired.
Just sit down a take a little nap, I'm going to close the rocket door *cough* I mean bedroom door.

OK guys, launch it!
:cry: You forgot my woobie, I can't sleep without my woobie.
 
  • #234
Evo said:
:cry:
Actually, the more I think about it, you're kind of an space-junk asset. Thanks to the concerns of our members, I get early warnings. So I'm staying. :smile:
 

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