28-03-2025
Watch: Satellite debris spotted in Saudi sky; no risk posed, say astronomers
On March 27, the debris of a satellite was seen in the Saudi skies, captured by Khaled Al-Baridi from the Al-Bukayriyah region in Al-Qassim, according to the International Astronomy Centre (IAC).
The satellite – 'Starlink 5314', bearing the number 55678 – began to enter the atmosphere above the Kingdom's skies at around 7.27pm local time in Saudi Arabia, the IAC said.
Watch a video, shared by IAC, here:
The satellite was moving from north to south, and was visible from large parts of the country. The areas where the satellite could be observed included Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah Al-Mukarramah, and Madinah Al-Munawwarah.
The satellite was launched on February 17, 2023, and shortly thereafter re-entered the atmosphere and burned up almost completely, the IAC added. Only minor debris is expected to have reached Earth, posing no significant risk.
