Stephen Jeans is a lecturer\u00a0in\u00a0earth and space science at Mount Royal University and Ambrose University.\u00a0He holds a PhD in Earth and Space Science Education.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After reviewing footage of the fireball\u00a0that\u00a0streaked across the sky last night, he believes folks saw a satellite reentering earth\u2019s atmosphere.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s very impressive that so many people got a good look,\u201d said Jeans.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At first, he thought it could have been part of a meteor pattern seen across Alberta and British Columbia.\u00a0Meteors were spotted in Alberta a few weeks ago and\u00a0on March 2, a bright bolide (bright meteor) streaked across the sky in\u00a0British Columbia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is probably not a meteor that we’re looking at,\u201d he said. \u201cA meteor comes streaking through the sky\u00a0fairly swiftly.\u00a0A meteor will usually be\u00a0fairly bright\u00a0and a consistent\u00a0bright.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Satellites or space debris move a little slower, taking a few minutes to move across the sky, and are less bright.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s still traveling at a pretty good speed, but when it starts to re-enter the atmosphere, or if it’s deorbited because they’re finished with it, it will start to break up high up in the atmosphere, about\u00a0100 kilometers\u00a0up, and it leaves a whole bunch of debris,\u00a0streaks,\u00a0and\u00a0colours.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the past, it was\u00a0rarer\u00a0to see satellites reentering the atmosphere. When they did, it was usually announced ahead of\u00a0time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, with more satellites sent into\u00a0orbit\u00a0and more nets of satellites, like Starlink, placed\u00a0in low orbit, sightings like the one on Thursday night\u00a0are becoming\u00a0more common.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea is\u00a0they’re\u00a0not going to be up there for long. The\u00a0reason why\u00a0they do that is because they can refurbish and replenish them, and they can be close to the Earth for quick\u00a0communications,\u201d said Jean.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Starlink satellites are designed to have a life span of about five years.\u00a0It is\u00a0reported that\u00a0about one to two Starlink satellites are deorbited every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOccasionally, they\u00a0rub\u00a0up against the atmosphere and will start to tumble out. Or they fail, their devices stop working, and so\u00a0they’re\u00a0intentionally crashed into the planet or deorbited.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jean said to keep an eye on the sky for similar events in the future.\u00a0He\u00a0said\u00a0satellite debris can be\u00a0very\u00a0pretty as a variety of colours\u00a0streak the sky due\u00a0to the\u00a0different materials.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Should I be worried about debris?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jean said the\u00a0likelihood\u00a0of being\u00a0hit\u00a0by\u00a0satellite\u00a0debris is\u00a0very rare.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s no different than anything else catching fire,\u201d he said. \u201cBy the time they reach the surface of the Earth,\u00a0they’re\u00a0going to be\u00a0pretty small.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Air resistance also\u00a0slows down\u00a0the debris, so it does not come in too swiftly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Additionally, when satellites are intentionally deorbited, companies are sensible about the location. Typically, they plan for big debris to\u00a0land in\u00a0the middle of\u00a0ocean.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Report celestial events\u00a0<\/p>\n
When you are lucky enough to see a\u00a0celestial event, Jean said to report it online.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Information gathered\u00a0is then collected in one place, making it easier for people to track\u00a0and\u00a0determine\u00a0the\u00a0cause\u00a0for\u00a0events like this.\u00a0<\/p>\n