[AZ-Observing] Re: StarShine Deorbit

Space Weather News for January 19, 2003
http://www.spaceweather.com

The glittering Starshine 3 satellite, built by schoolkids and launched in
Sept. 2001, will soon re-enter Earth's atmosphere. Can you spot the
fireball? Re-entry estimates vary from 0500 UT (midnight EST) to 1330 UT
(8:30 EST) on Tuesday, Jan. 21st. Although Starshine is likely to re-enter
above some unpopulated stretch of ocean, the satellite's final orbit does
carry it over North America and eastern Europe where sky watchers might
see it.

"There's no danger to anyone on the ground," says Prof. Gil Moore, the
director of Project Starshine. "We designed the satellite so that it will
be 100% consumed about 80 km up." Except for a few small steel screws the
body of the spacecraft is made entirely of aluminum--a substance that will
vaporize during the bright and fiery descent.

Visit spaceweather.com for more information about Starshine 3 as well as
links to the latest re-entry predictions (they will improve between now
and Tuesday) and photo tips, too!

                          Jeff Hopkins
                            HPO SOFT
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