{"id":793169,"date":"2025-01-30T09:03:11","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T14:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=793169"},"modified":"2025-01-30T09:03:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T14:03:11","slug":"fireball-over-iowa-illinois-and-michigan-confirmed-as-starlink-satellite-debris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=793169","title":{"rendered":"Fireball over Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan confirmed as Starlink satellite debris"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>A dazzling fireball later identified as debris of Starlink satellite #5693 streaked across the Midwest night sky at 03:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 29 (21:00 local time on Tuesday).<\/p>\n<p>American Meteor Society (AMS) received 69 reports from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<p>The debris fireball created a stunning display of several colors including orange, brown, yellow, and red, with observers reporting seeing up to 20 individual pieces, all with a trail.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"perfmatters-lazy-youtube\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KJNE6Jf71Rs\" data-id=\"KJNE6Jf71Rs\" data-query=\"feature=oembed\" onclick=\"perfmattersLazyLoadYouTube(this);\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AMS event #600-2025 caught from Mazomanie US\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KJNE6Jf71Rs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" alt=\"iowa fireball trajectory january 2025 heatmap\" class=\"wp-image-215367 perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap-1024x684.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap-768x513.webp 768w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap.webp 1200w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap-1024x684.webp\" alt=\"iowa fireball trajectory january 2025 heatmap\" class=\"wp-image-215367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap-768x513.webp 768w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/iowa-fireball-trajectory-january-2025-heatmap.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Iowa fireball and trajectory \u2013 January 2025. Image credit: AMS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>One observer from Mukwonago, Wisconsin remarked that the sigh reminded him of the starship Launch 7 reentering the atmosphere after the explosion. \u201cThey looked like something in low Earth orbit was reentering. There were several chunks all going in the same direction of various brightness,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"perfmatters-lazy-youtube\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fKpsNyFwC-Q\" data-id=\"fKpsNyFwC-Q\" data-query=\"feature=oembed\" onclick=\"perfmattersLazyLoadYouTube(this);\">\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"YouTube video\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" nopin=\"nopin\" class=\"perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/fKpsNyFwC-Q\/hqdefault.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/fKpsNyFwC-Q\/hqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"YouTube video\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" nopin=\"nopin\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AMS event #600-2025 caught from Crystal Lake US\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fKpsNyFwC-Q?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt was a white to orange to reddish blazing something that kept getting larger in size as it sped across the sky \u2013 major intensity as it arced over my view with multiple shards coming off and more tail showing as it left my viewing sight,\u201d said Ashley from Elkader, Iowa. \u201cThree or more fragments burst off as it arced over the sky\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"perfmatters-lazy-youtube\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M2LT43k7VNg\" data-id=\"M2LT43k7VNg\" data-query=\"feature=oembed\" onclick=\"perfmattersLazyLoadYouTube(this);\">\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"YouTube video\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" nopin=\"nopin\" class=\"perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/M2LT43k7VNg\/hqdefault.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/M2LT43k7VNg\/hqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"YouTube video\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" nopin=\"nopin\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AMS event #600-2025 caught from Naperville US\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/M2LT43k7VNg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"perfmatters-lazy-youtube\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SnVh9ee3R1k\" data-id=\"SnVh9ee3R1k\" data-query=\"start=51&amp;feature=oembed\" onclick=\"perfmattersLazyLoadYouTube(this);\">\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"YouTube video\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" nopin=\"nopin\" class=\"perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/SnVh9ee3R1k\/hqdefault.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/SnVh9ee3R1k\/hqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"YouTube video\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" nopin=\"nopin\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"January 28 2025 - AMS Event 600-2025 - Starlink Satellite Re-entry\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SnVh9ee3R1k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Reentries of Starlink satellites occur regularly due to their design and natural orbital decay. While not all are observed, those that are can produce noticeable light displays, such as the one seen over the Midwest yesterday.<\/p>\n<p>Starlink satellites operate in low Earth orbit (LEO) at altitudes between 540 km and 570 km (336 miles and 354 miles). At these elevations, atmospheric drag gradually reduces their altitude, eventually leading to reentry, where they burn up in the atmosphere. This controlled lifecycle helps prevent long-term space debris.<\/p>\n<p>As of January 28, 2025, SpaceX has launched approximately 7 811 Starlink satellites, with around 6 994 still in orbit and 6 243 operational. Given these numbers, Starlink satellite reentries are frequent. It is estimated that about 2 tonnes (2.2 tons) of defunct satellites reenter Earth\u2019s atmosphere daily, sometimes producing visible reentry events.<\/p>\n<p>While most re-entries occur over oceans or uninhabited areas and remain unnoticed, some are visible over populated regions, appearing as fireball-like streaks in the sky. <\/p>\n<p>In early February 2022, a geomagnetic storm caused the premature reentry of 38 newly launched Starlink satellites, creating visible streaks across the sky.<\/p>\n<p>References:<\/p>\n<p><sup>1<\/sup> Fireball report 600-2025 \u2013 AMS \u2013 January 29, 2025<\/p>\n<p><!-- MOLONGUI AUTHORSHIP PLUGIN 4.9.7 --><br \/>\n<!-- https:\/\/www.molongui.com\/wordpress-plugin-post-authors --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/2025\/01\/30\/fireball-over-iowa-illinois-and-michigan-confirmed-as-starlink-satellite-debris\/?rand=772151\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A dazzling fireball later identified as debris of Starlink satellite #5693 streaked across the Midwest night sky at 03:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 29 (21:00 local time on Tuesday). American&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":793170,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-793169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genaero"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=793169"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/793169\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/793170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=793169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=793169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=793169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}