Credit & Copyright: Jon Teus
(Science Society Aranzadi, Spain)
Explanation:
Did you see that flash?
Lasting only about 15 seconds, it's possible
that nobody you ask can confirm it,
but what you might have seen is
sunlight reflecting off an orbiting
Iridium satellite.
Satellites of all types have been providing
streaks and glints visible only since the launch of
Sputnik I in 1957.
Of these,
flares from any of the
66 Iridium satellites can be particularly bright,
sometimes even approaching the brightness of the
Moon.
If the
Iridium satellites are programmed to
re-enter the Earth's atmosphere,
they might provide even brighter flares as they burn up.
Pictured above, the streak from an
Iridium satellite punctuates a picturesque sunset in
San Sebastian,
Spain.
Then again, that sky-flash you saw? If it lasted only a
second or two, it might have been a
meteor.
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 |
Yanvar' Fevral' Mart Aprel' Mai Iyun' Iyul' Avgust Sentyabr' Oktyabr' Noyabr' Dekabr' |
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
|
Publikacii s klyuchevymi slovami:
sunset - Iridium sattellite - ISZ - sputniki Iridium - Sputniki iskusstvennye
Publikacii so slovami: sunset - Iridium sattellite - ISZ - sputniki Iridium - Sputniki iskusstvennye | |
Sm. takzhe:
Vse publikacii na tu zhe temu >> | |
