Stardust Probe Re-Entry LIVE THREAD

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory ^ | 14 January 2006 | NASA JPL

[HolgerDansk]

The Stardust capsule will be visible from parts of Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho and Oregon when it returns on Jan 15 at 1:57 AM PST (09:57 UTC). Tips on how to observe this event are available.

[HolgerDansk]

Stardust will enter the earth's atmosphere over Crescent City, CA, passing over Modoc County and the Suprise Valley, then on over northern Nevada, finally landing at Dugway Proving Ground south of Salt Lake City. Star charts with a plot of Stardust's path can be found here for Salt Lake City, Boise, the San Francisco Bay Area, Reno and other towns in Nevada. Here's the chart for the Bay Area:

[NormsRevenge]

Hopefully we will get some eyewitness reports from FReepers in that neck of the woods..

There will be Less than 90 seconds for viewing the capsule as it streaks thru the atmosphere.

[SpaceBar]

Time to squeeze some Sterno into a shot glass.

[Third Order]

clouds have started to clear, not sure if I'll have a clear line of sight here in San Jose

[cgk]

It doesn't look like we'll be able to see it from San Diego. Bummer!

[Liberty Valance]

"NASA's Stardust mission has traveled about 4.5 billion kilometers (2.88 billion miles) during its seven year round-trip odyssey. It is a journey that carried it around the sun three times and beyond Mars and the asteroid belt -- as far out as half-way to Jupiter. This cosmic voyage was in quest of cometary and interstellar dust particles, which scientists believe will help provide answers to fundamental questions about comets and the origins of the solar system."

Wow.

[cabojoe]

Yes it's a bummer, but we have strategically placed Freeper Observation Corps standing ready with photographic equipment!

[IYellAtMyTV]

Won't be able to see it from here in Spokane, clouds & rain. Da*n.

Those with a view, let us know whats going on!

[Third Order]

all that just to end up in Utah in the middle of the night.

[Petronski]

My God....it's full of stars!

Just starting now on Sci-Fi: Arthur C. Clarke's "2010"

[GopherIt]

Is she home? Damn, I'm in SLC looking at low hanging clouds.

[snodog]

Stardust will enter the earth's atmosphere over Crescent City, CA

Crescent City, CA is the home of Pelican Bay Correctional facility, wake the inmates, and alert the judges of the 9th circuit. Why would the government put those inmates at such a risk...

[Lokibob]

SNOW!!!!

The NOAA wx radar is crappy and not encouraging.

We have been dry all month, now this morning, California sends us SNOW!!!

We are going to head out anyway, but not all that hopeful.

If I get anything, I'll post it around 0430mst.

[Hank Rearden]

What if it just comes back clogged with clothes-dryer lint and cat fur?

[cabojoe]

More discussion and maps over here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1554413/posts

[null and void]

We'll look forward to it. Thanks for the effort even if it's in vain.

BTW, NSS is holding a reentry photo contest...

[HolgerDansk]

Windy and clear up here in San Mateo County. Wife and I plan on jumping into the car around 0130 to head for a better viewing location just up the hill.

[ChadGore]

cool stuff bump

[saganite]

Bump for later

[dread78645]

... clothes-dryer lint and cat fur?

All the missing socks are in space!