[meteorite-list] Comet Lulin/Satellite Debris Update - February 18, 2009

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:05:03 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200902190105.RAA06488_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

Space Weather News for Feb. 18, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

COMET LULIN UPDATE: Comet Lulin is approaching Earth and
brightening rapidly. Observers say it is now visible to
the naked eye as a faint (magnitude +5.6) gassy patch in
the constellation Virgo before dawn. Even city dwellers
have seen it. Backyard telescopes reveal a vivid green
comet in obvious motion. Just yesterday, amateur
astronomers watched as a solar wind gust tore away part
of the comet's tail, the second time this month such a
thing has happened. Lulin's closest approach to Earth
(38 million miles) is on Feb. 24th; at that time the
comet could be two or three times brighter than it is now.
Browse the gallery for the latest images:
http://spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_lulin_page8.htm

SATELLITE DEBRIS: More than a week has passed since the
Feb. 10th collision of Iridium 33 and Kosmos 2251 over
northern Siberia, and the orbits of some of the largest
fragments have now been measured by US Strategic Command.
Today's edition of http://Spaceweather.com features
global maps showing where the debris is located. Only
26 fragments are currently plotted, but that number will
grow as radar tracking of the debris continues. Check
back often for updates.
Received on Wed 18 Feb 2009 08:05:03 PM PST