Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Maybe watching War of the Worlds again today is not such a good idea.
The failed Russian Mars-probe is on the way down to Earth. It's (approximate) trajectory can be seen using the link below...if it's not too busy.
http://www.lizard-tail.com/isana/tracking/index.html?&target=phobos_grunt
You will see as the the craft travels north (from left to right) that in two more orbits it shall pass pretty much over the Channel if not quite overhead.

Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Thanks Tom, very interesting.
Of course the chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one, but still...
I wonder what time it is predicted to be over the Channel, and I wonder if it will be visible to the naked eye? If one does pop out spotting, I advise borrowing one of Phil W's crash helmets.
Oooh i shall show Mark this he likes all this space stuff, im still enjoying the google sky map app i got on my phone
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Nothing quite so up-to-date Phil, but there is a short video from earlier in the month...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16440834
It is nearly time for the 6 o'clock news...
[Mel, is that thee phone?]
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
the 02 phone the new one from the one i had for a week after all its problems it then went a completly died on me

my new one is lush

Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
All's well that ends well. For phone and space debris both. (fingers crossed)
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Tom are u worried ??
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Worried? No, but...
I can see now that in two more orbits it may fly a course parallel to the south coast and slightly inland. I have the ITV news on...no mention yet.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 672- Registered: 3 Jun 2008
- Posts: 2,119
I take it you've got an Iphone Mel?
This cropped up a couple of weeks ago with a friend, the end of the world is nigh and all that.
I said what would you do if you had 3 minutes left to live, that's easy came the reply........have sex and a couple fags.

grass grows by the inches but dies by the feet.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
I have read that at an altitude of about 180km stuff begins to burn-up (and that NASA sets their re-entry point at an altitude of 122km) and that this space craft is presently at about 121km.
So...if it does make it for another two orbits there may well be something to see.
I look forward to your reports.

Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Ian ive got a samsung galaxy ace much better than an iphone i think and three minutes blimey thats not long

, Tom you make me nervous sometimes

Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
[only sometimes Mel? Must try harder

]
It has just left Brazil and shall make land-fall again over the Bay of Biscay. The next orbit (should it last that long?) is the one set to pass just north of Dover.
It is now...
108km high and travelling at 28,248 km/hr.
It's speed has not dropped much (yet), but the lower it gets the more of it will burn-up and slow down. One portion of the object is specifically designed to come down all the way.
P.S.
I have heard our atmosphere described as roughly equal to a beach-ball wrapped in cling-film...just saying is all

Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
And that means to a blonde???
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
To a blonde?
Well, I hear blondes have more fun...so the next hour or so is sure to be fun-packed.
I will pop out for a look see in due time...then we shall see what we shall see.
[the current velocity is 28,220 km/hr and falling]
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
tom is an education, worth ploughing through his posts.
after a few reads i can work out what he is intimating.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Perhaps it will come down on Burlington House.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Ever the optimist......
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Not long now....about ten minutes until it pass overhead.
Come on....Burlington. Come on....come on....