We have been getting a lot of phone calls this morning here at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center about a strange comet-like object that suddenly appeared near the constellation Cassiopeia around 7 p.m last night (December 10, 2007).
While the object looked like a comet, it was actually a fuel dump from a rocket!
Thanks to spaceweather.com for more information:
"This cloud mimicking Comet 17P/Holmes is fuel dumped from the upper stage of an Atlas rocket that launched a classified satellite into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office on Dec. 10th. The event created a splendid display for about 50 minutes and then faded into the night." - www.spaceweather.com
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December 12, 2007 1:46 p.m.
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