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Space Debris
updated: Jan 17, 2013, 8:29 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

I was running at 5:20 a.m Thursday morning at the Lompoc Mission when I saw what was either a comet or space debris enter or burn up in the atmosphere. Did anyone else see this? It had a blue tail and was seen to the east of Lompoc and only lasted a second +/-. I tried finding news about it but haven't seen any.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 364433	2013-01-17 08:44 AM
Probably a meteor ("shooting star" as we sometimes say.) These streak across the sky and only remain visible for a few seconds at most. No comets visible to the naked eye at this time, but hold onto your hat - we may enjoy a spectacular view of a comet later this year which, by early accounts, might become brighter than our full moon! We amateur astronomers eagerly await its arrival... By the way, a comet remains stationary in the sky (from our point-of-view) and moves across our heavens by what seem "inches" at a time over weeks or months. Stay tuned.
COMMENT 364450	2013-01-17 09:16 AM
China blew up one of their old weather satellites in space last year so it could have easily been space junk. Whatever it was I'm sure it was spectacular to see. In the year 2035 there will be an asteroid in the sky so bright you will be able to see it in the day time.
COMMENT 364463	2013-01-17 09:40 AM
450 - You may not have to wait until 2035. The comet I referred to above is called "Ison," and, according to early reports may be visible during the daytime late this year. According to news reports: "...Although Comet ISON will not be passing near Earth until the end of 2013, astronomers already project it to put on a dazzling show that will be visible during the day. Because of its size and expected brilliance, ISON could be the “comet of the century.”
COMMENT 364467	2013-01-17 09:44 AM
It was a a meteor brah, confirmed. A very significant one in fact and witnessed by many people across California. Article about in the SF Gate today, available online.
COMMENT 364469	2013-01-17 09:48 AM
Isn't there a ton of space "debris" in orbit, some of which does re-enter the atmosphere periodically burning up on re-entry and visible during low light conditions? Probably happens during the day too but not so readily noticeable.
COMMENT 364515	2013-01-17 11:08 AM
Meteor brah? Is that like a size DDD bra?
COMMENT 364549	2013-01-17 12:30 PM
@364467 you say "confirmed" because it was in the SF Gate?
BLUEB	2013-01-17 07:03 PM
My husband and I were driving north on Las Positas on the way to the gym and saw it. We both simulataneously exclaimed, "Did you see that?!!" It was big, bright and waaay cool!
MACPUZL	2013-01-17 10:44 PM
There's no asteroid coming *that* close in 2035. More like 20 million miles away, so it won't be very bright at all.
COMMENT 364750P	2013-01-18 06:56 AM
Is this the same "brah" and "confirmed" poster who says the guy who stole the computer shouldn't lose his job coz the computer was left unattended? Are we still in the U.S.?
COMMENT 364775P	2013-01-18 08:01 AM
Good for your for a 5:20 La Purisma run! My favorite place to run the trails and you always see wonderful nature or skies!!
COMMENT 364791	2013-01-18 08:40 AM
Is "brah" the feminine form for "broh"?

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