³ÉÈËXÕ¾

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Debris from SpaceX rocket streaks across night sky over Washington

Mar 25, 2021, 10:26 PM | Updated: Mar 26, 2021, 7:50 am

People looking up to the night sky got quite a show late Thursday night.

Observers wondered if they were seeing a meteor shower or a UFO.

Chance of snow Monday as opportunity ‘quickly running out toward April’

The it was “the debris from a Falcon 9 rocket 2nd stage that did not successfully have a deorbit burn.”

One astronomer also said that the Falcon 9 rocket failed to make a deorbit burn and is “reentering after 22 days in orbit.”

According to the NWS, manmade objects entering low in Earth’s orbit can reach speeds of nearly 17,500 miles an hour. In order for a spectacle like what the region saw last night to occur, objects must enter the atmosphere at just the right angle.

“If it’s too steep, they’ll burn up,” the NWS noted. “If the angle is too small, they risk ‘skimming’ the atmosphere like a stone on water.”

Meteors can move even faster, grazing the top of planet’s atmosphere at speeds of over 45,000 miles per hour. But because their angle of impact is so steep, they tend to incinerate relatively quickly.

The NWS said there were no reports of Thursday night’s debris making its way to the ground in the area.

MyNorthwest News

Seattle Central College demonstration...

James Lynch

Demonstrators hold walk-out at Seattle Central College on May Day

Demonstrators protest furloughs during walk-out at Seattle Central College on May Day.

34 minutes ago

Image: People may have a hard time getting around this weekend after WSDOT announced several major ...

MyNorthwest Staff

Driver killed after crash on SR 520; WSP seeking hit-and-run suspect

WSP is looking for the car its thinks is responsible for a hit-and-run on SR 520. 

38 minutes ago

23andMe...

Luke Duecy

Tech Talk: What happens to your data when 23andMe sells it to the highest bidder?

However, in March, after settling a $30 million lawsuit over a data breach, 23andMe declared bankruptcy and announced they are selling the company, including the massive amounts of data it has collected from willing customers.

1 hour ago

A Bothell Police Department vehicle. (Photo courtesy of the Bothell Police Department)...

Frank Sumrall

16-month-old found safely after taken from legal guardian’s home

A 16-month-old child was found safely after she was taken from the home of their legal guardian in Bothell Thursday morning.

2 hours ago

Cal Anderson Park May Day...

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7 News Staff

May Day 2025: Rallies around Puget Sound

Join the May Day celebrations in Puget Sound, honoring workers' rights and historical struggles on May 1, 2025.

3 hours ago

microsoft AI...

MyNorthwest Staff

Microsoft scales back on AI after more than two years of aggressive spending

After 10 consecutive quarters of increasing its spending on artificial intelligence (AI), Microsoft is deciding to slightly pull back its financial commitment to the burgeoning technology.

4 hours ago

Debris from SpaceX rocket streaks across night sky over Washington