Artificial object in trans-lunar orbit will impact Earth Nov 13

http://orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?p=518316 ^

[BenLurkin]

An unusual re-entry is in store for Nov 13.

Object WT1190F discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey (a Near Earth Asteroid survey) on Oct 3, and (as it turns out) observed earlier in 2013 and 2012, is predicted to impact Earth near 6:19 UT on Nov 13, south of Sri Lanka near lat 5.625 N lon 81.452 E.

This object is not an asteroid but an artificial object in a trans-Lunar, earth-centered orbit with perigee currently at 5732 km and apogee at 607 773 km (1.6 Lunar Distance).

It is currently not known from what launch this object is, but orbit and orbital behaviour clearly affected by SRP point out it is artificial, i.e. it is a rocket stage of a Lunar or interplanetary mission.

[Signalman]

Any chance it could hit Wash. D.C.?

[fwdude]

V’Ger is returning.

[SamAdams76]

I remember when Skylab fell to Earth in 1979.

When it happened, Chic had a hit song called “Good Times”.

[freedumb2003]

Will it be Kal El or will it be Cloverfield?

[Steely Tom]

I’m guessing that the “perigee” value is the distance from Earth’s center of gravity.

[Inyo-Mono]

There is a big old rusty boiler out in the middle of desert close to where I live, left over from the mining era, looks kind of like a rocket, and years ago, someone painted “Skylab” on the side.

[Rodamala]

Since it’s a Trans-Lunar object, I bet the perigee distance is from the Earth-Moon barycenter.

[cripplecreek]

John Belushi did a skit about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwuzX38x_Ro

[dayglored]

> I’m guessing that the “perigee” value is the distance from Earth’s center of gravity.

Not likely, since that would put it INSIDE the Earth's radius of 6,371 km. It's gotta be perigee above the surface.

[cuban leaf]

Must sterilize...

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

[justlurking]

Object WT1190F discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey [....]

Come on... no one else noticed the letters in the name?

[Steely Tom]

Not likely, since that would put it INSIDE the Earth's radius of 6,371 km. It's gotta be perigee above the surface.

Yeah, but then it wouldn't "impact the surface" as per the article, would it?

[Autonomous User]

[dayglored]

>> Not likely, since that would put it INSIDE the Earth's radius of 6,371 km. It's gotta be perigee above the surface.

> Yeah, but then it wouldn't "impact the surface" as per the article, would it?

I imagine that the orbit is changing rapidly, or is inherently eccentric.

[smokingfrog]

[sarge83]

Apollo SV-B?

[smokingfrog]

Apollo 13 service module. Whatever happened to it?

[ArmyTeach]

Good thought, but it is expected to smack down in Sri Lanka.