Fwd: Visual observation of Columbia reentry from Socorro, NM

From: Harald Edens (edens@weather-photography.com)
Date: Sun Feb 02 2003 - 01:22:11 EST

  • Next message: Michael Waterman: "Re Progress 9"

    Well I realize now that any observational report will be useful, normal or 
    abnormal, so it is good that I sent mine out.  Hope they found it okay that 
    I sent a text report to columbiaimages@nasa.gov.  In hindsight, it is a 
    shame that I did not take photographs for any evidence.
    
    Harald
    
    
    >Hello,
    >
    >I realize my visual report may not be very helpful in your investigation, 
    >but I just wanted to be sure to send it in anyway.
    >
    >I went outside in Socorro, NM around 6:57 MDT feb. 1 to watch the shuttle 
    >reentry.  I did not see any indication of something unusual along the 
    >course of its track.  Shuttle was a spot of light that glowed steadily 
    >(pink hue).  There was no contrail, and absolutely no variations in 
    >brightness that I could see (except the very gradual decrease in 
    >brightness as it went E due to the lighter sky background).
    >
    >A few seconds later I went indoors to get 8x30 binoculars.  With this I 
    >saw, very low-contrast, a very short  brownish tail (estimate less than 
    >.25 degree) directly behind the shuttle, which I thought being ionization 
    >glow of the atmosphere coloring brown with the dark blue sky 
    >background.  It did not look like white smoke or condensation.  I saw this 
    >in binoculars when the shuttle was due N of me and approx 35 degrees 
    >elevation (did not measure, but my recollection).
    >
    >I continued watching the shuttle (without binoculars) until I lost it in 
    >the twilight approx 6:58-6:59 MDT in ENE direction at about 25 degrees 
    >elevation.  Again, I did not observe any variations in brightness or 
    >separate pieces along any part of the pass.  The brightness was comparable 
    >to Venus, around mag. -5, when it was due N of me.  Sky was mostly clear 
    >with thin cirrus.  I waited 5 minutes but heard no sonic boom or rumbling.
    >
    >Observation location was Socorro, New Mexico
    >34. 03' 09.9"  N  /  106. 54' 02.1"  W  /  4700 ft
    >
    >I wish you all the best in the investigation.
    >
    >Harald Edens
    >
    >edens@nmt.edu
    
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