Debris from SpaceX rocket streaks across night sky over Washington

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

Former MyNorthwest Editor

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.

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The National Weather Service in Seattle reported it was “the debris from a Falcon 9 rocket 2nd stage that did not successfully have a deorbit burn.”

This photo of the objects, taken from Friday Harbor, WA was posted on Facebook pic.twitter.com/qkyOFtoKkg

— Lorrie Scott (@LorrieScott) March 26, 2021

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

The Falcon 9 second stage from the Mar 4 Starlink launch failed to make a deorbit burn and is now reentering after 22 days in orbit. Its reentry was observed from the Seattle area at about 0400 UTC Mar 26. pic.twitter.com/FQrBrUoBHh

— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) March 26, 2021

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.

Shooting stars? Debris? Anyone else see this in Seattle just now? @KING5Seattle @komonews #UFOs pic.twitter.com/4cmHiYUptn

— Fred Lu (@fredlu_1618) March 26, 2021