Falling space junk?

[Hippy]

Did any one else see this? I was de-icing my car on this beautiful clear morning at 0634 and was musing about Saturn whilst looking in that direction when what I thought was a shooting star made an bright yellowish orange streak in the SSW, but became wobbly as it descended and slowed, creating a sort of wiggly trail that lasted about five seconds before vanishing. Wow!

 

There is no way I can say how high this thing was, but it was awesome. Any sightings or ideas?

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[Hamish]

It might be a good idea if you told us where in the wold you are as this make a huge differnace on time and position!

[greenday]

My mother saw a strange phenomenon on Tuesday morning. She lives in NE Scotland if it helps. It was around 6.30am (can't be more exact) and she said it looked like a spectrum of light with a bright tail. Will try and get more details. My brother thought she was mad!

[greenday]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2188221.stm

 

Good old bbc, the first place I looked.

[greenday]

Just noticed that link is a bit out of date.

[Hippy]

Oops, Hamish, how right you are. Newcastle upon Tyne is where I saw it. I've see shooting stars, comets, and even the odd Leonid and Perseid, and what I saw was different. It first appeared as a straight thin bright yellowish orange line but then the "business end" seemed to lose speed and direction, the trail fattened out, and was a lot more orange. The whatever it was wobbled a bit slowed even more and then vanished. The whole sighting lasted about five seconds. It certainly looked like something burning up in the atmosphere.

[Dagman]

Probably a bit of old rocket or satellite part wobbling as it burns and changes shape which will make it alter direction. There's loads of it up there just waiting to fall !