Latest news with #spaceDebris
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Perseid meteor shower to light up August sky with fiery display
Local stargazers, mark your calendars — one of the most spectacular sky shows of the year is about to happen. The Perseid meteor shower, known for its display of fast, bright meteors, will reach its peak activity around Aug. 12-13, offering viewers a chance to witness from 50 to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, according to NASA. The Perseids are popular among amateur astronomers and casual sky watchers. Occurring during warm nights in the Northern Hemisphere, NASA astronomers predict the conditions are often perfect for lying back and enjoying the view. The meteors are known for their swift, vivid streaks that frequently leave behind glowing trails of light and color as they burn through Earth's atmosphere. Adding to the spectacle are fireballs — exceptionally bright meteors that are larger and more dramatic than the typical streak. These fireballs often last longer and shine brighter, thanks to their origins in larger fragments of space debris. Their brightness can even exceed that of the planet Venus, lighting up the sky in brief, fiery flashes. The annual meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a massive comet with a nucleus measuring about 16 miles across — nearly twice the size of the asteroid that is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, NASA scientists said. The comet last swept through the inner solar system in 1992 and won't return until 2126. While the Perseids are visible from mid-July to late August, the best viewing is expected during the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 12 and 13. Meteors, however can sometimes be spotted as early as 10 p.m., especially in darker areas away from city lights. For optimal viewing, find a clear, dark sky and look toward the northeast — although meteors can appear in any part of the sky. The Perseids get their name from the constellation Perseus, where their radiant — or apparent point of origin — is located. But it's important to note: The constellation isn't the source of the meteors, just a celestial marker to help identify the shower. Stargazers can grab a blanket, head outside, and look up. The Perseids could be one of the most thrilling night-sky events of the year with no telescope required. On Nov. 12, the Baltimore region got a glimpse of a meteor falling around 7:45 p.m., according to reports filed with the American Meteor Society. A video of the light streaking across the sky was captured and posted to the social media platform X. The meteor could also be seen in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, according to reports sent to the American Meteor Society. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@ or on X as @ToddKarpovich. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Panic as ball of fire is seen streaking through the sky in multiple U.S. states
A flaming object was seen streaking across the skies of several southern states in the U.S. on Thursday afternoon, and the fireball sparked panic and confusion because no explosion or blaze had been reported on the ground. Police scanner audio in Spartanburg, South Carolina, captured a call from a woman who reported a 'giant ball of fire' falling from the sky, a sight echoed by witnesses from Tennessee to Georgia. A firefighter wrote on X: 'I'm not crazy! I just saw a huge ball of fire fall from the sky in East Tennessee around the Cherokee National Forest! Anyone else see it? Right around 12:20pm ET. Very cool but a little unnerving given the current times!' Great ball of fire! A flaming object was seen in the skies over several southern U.S. states While some speculated it could have been a falling aircraft, the firefighter on X described it as being 'like a mini sun falling with a tail of fire'. In Georgia, one resident said they not only saw the object but heard it pass overhead and felt the ground shake when it hit. The National Weather Service confirmed the numerous reports across Southeast U.S. and said: 'It is not certain, but the satellite-based lightning detection shows a streak within cloud-free sky over the NC/VA border, over Gasbury, VA. 'This streak was detected between 12.51 to 12:56pm.' Meteorologist Brad Panovich said: 'Looking at the videos, this is very low in the atmosphere. I am curious if this was a piece of space debris, a rocket body or degrading space junk. 'For something to be that bright in the middle of the day, it was most likely burning up in the atmosphere. If it were a meteor, it would have had to be very large to be that bright in the middle of the day.' A driver traveling on Interstate 85 in Upstate South Carolina filmed the fireball falling through the sky on their dashcam. A post on X read: 'Weird atmospheric sounds in GA today. Sounded like a fireball or rocket burning through the sky, shaking the house... followed by two or three helicopters not listed on the Flightradar.' Hundreds of reports of a possible fireball were submitted to the American Meteor Society's website from Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. One fireball report on the American Meteor Society from Perry, Georgia, read: 'This was the middle of the day, and it just came out of nowhere.' A report submitted by another Georgia resident said: 'I thought it was a missile.' Another comment added: 'It was full daylight, no clouds, and still it was very bright. I heard a muffled and slight boom sound, maybe 30 seconds later, but that could be unrelated.' On Facebook, a witness added: 'Stone Mountain here and it made a booming sound, house shook with a long rumble. Dogs went crazy.' Another Georgia local posted: 'House totally rumbled, sounded like a log rolling off the roof - thought nukes were coming...' Atlanta news source WRDW reported that black smoke was seen south of Interstate 20, although first responders said it could have been from a controlled burn. The Federal Aviation Administration said it had 'no reports of unusual aircraft activity in the area', according to Atlanta News First. There were no immediate reports of damage linked to the fireball, and it's unclear whether the wide range of sightings were caused by multiple fragments from the same potential meteor.
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
What Fell From The Sky Today And Why Was It So Loud?
Visitors from Space Reach the Earth', 1935 . From The Popular Science Educator, Volume 1, edited by ... More Charles Ray. [The Amalgamated Press, Ltd., London, ]. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The) Social media sites were buzzing today as people across the southeastern United States reported seeing a fireball streaking from the sky. Many witnesses also reported a loud noise and feeling the Earth was shaking. Here's what we know about what fell from the sky and why it made the ground shake. Fireballs are frequently reported and today is certainly no exception. The American Meteor Society fielded reports throughout the day on its website. While many experts believe that it was likely a meteor, there has been no conclusive determination at the time of writing. Other possibilities include a piece of space debris re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Although many other theories were quite amusing on social media. Speaking of the atmosphere, meteorologists study weather but are often asked about meteors. Trust me, I am a witness. I typically defer questions about them to astronomers. In this case, however, the National Weather Service has provided some interesting information about the event. Fireballs reported over the past several decades. The NWS Atlanta office posted on Facebook, 'Did you feel that today? Many in north Georgia not only felt it, but saw it. It appears that either a meteor or space junk crossed the skies of north Georgia just before 12:30 PM…. Reports of an earthquake came in shortly after, followed by sightings and video of a flash across the sky seen as far away as Macon and Upstate South Carolina.' More on what caused earthquake reports later, but let's address what causes these fireballs? According to the American Meteor Society website, 'A fireball is an unusually bright meteor that reaches a visual magnitude of -3 or brighter when seen at the observer's zenith.' Because of friction, an object entering the atmosphere is rapidly heated and is also slowed down. The physics associated with such interactions cause the appearance of fireball. The website goes on to say, 'Fireballs that explode in the atmosphere are technically referred to as bolides although the terms fireballs and bolides are often used interchangeably.' The fiery appearance and fragmentation of the object are not the only thing that can happen. The NWS Atlanta post noted, 'That earthquake you felt was the result of the sonic boom from the meteor or space junk.' A sonic boom is caused by shockwaves that build up as an object breaks the sound barrier. According to Livescience, 'The speed of sound varies depending on the temperature of the air through which the sound moves…. The speed of sound at sea level — assuming an air temperature of 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) — is 761.2 mph.' Sound moves faster in warmer air, and it was certainly hot today in the U.S. South. Lightning flashes across the U.S. on June 26, 2025 The current generation of U.S. geostationary weather satellites carry a lightning detection instrument. The map below shows lightning flashes aross the U.S. around dinner time June 26, 2025. NWS reported that the Global Lightning Mapper" also saw the fireball today. They wrote, "(GLM) looks for flashes high in the sky (i.e. lightning) which also happened to occur with this object and mimic the effect of lightning, so the object was detected by the lightning network. A lightning detection instrument on a weather satellite detects flashes associated with the ... More fireball.
Japan Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Space-debris firm that saw shares surge 62% on IPO loses half its value
When Astroscale Holdings began trading in Tokyo a year ago, excitement over the Japanese space-debris pioneer was riding so high that the stock surged 62%, making it a billion-dollar company. That lasted one day. The value of its shares have since halved after those lofty expectations soured, with the company announcing delays of some projects and lowering some of its earnings estimates. Astroscale is now the worst performer among Tokyo's 10 biggest listings in the past year and it's trading below its initial public offering price, data shows. While the company says the setbacks are temporary, its stock performance illustrates how fast investor patience can run out even for frontier industries like space. "Investors had put high expectations on the company, and the delay in scheduled plans resulted in the stock's underperformance,' said Ikuo Mitsui, a fund manager at Aizawa Securities. "There was a mismatch between investors and the company in terms of timelines.' The company, whose services include removing space debris and repairing satellites in space, recently downgraded its earnings estimates, projecting net losses doubled to ¥22.5 billion in the year ended April 30. It cited delays in new contract signings and revenue recognition for existing projects, according to a release by Astroscale, which will report earnings next week. It didn't help that the company also issued more stock to raise funds, diluting the value of existing shares, according to Koji Endo, an analyst at SBI Securities. Though investors are aware the company needs money, it needs to show better growth, he said. There are some positive signs, however. The company posted its first gross profit during the fiscal third quarter and its operating losses have been narrowing the past two quarters. The company remains optimistic that recent setbacks are only transitory. "We expect more growth for the current fiscal year and aim to achieve better profitability than last year,' said Nobuhiro Matsuyama, chief financial officer at Astroscale, in an interview. Astroscale aims to improve its profitability further by controlling costs and securing 20 to 30 projects globally, he said. The company has enough funding for now, raising about ¥12 billion in a recent share sale, but Astroscale will continue to raise funds if there's a need for investment, Matsuyama said. Toshiyuki Tateno, an analyst at Phillip Securities Japan, agrees that the company's long-term prospects remain bright. Despite the recent weak performance, the technology the company has should revalue the stock higher going forward, he said.
Bloomberg
04-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Japanese Space-Debris Firm Loses Half Its Value a Year After IPO
When Astroscale Holdings Inc. began trading in Tokyo a year ago, excitement over the Japanese space-debris pioneer was riding so high that the stock surged 62%, making it a billion-dollar company. That lasted one day. The shares have since halved after those lofty expectations soured, with the company announcing delays of some projects and lowering some of its earnings estimates.
