Satellite watchers are counting down. A 23-ton Chinese Long March rocket has been circling (ellipsing, actually) down and should re-enter the atmosphere any time now. Here’s a list of sites and people to follow who will be following the rocket’s trajectory.
The orbit has been erratic as it dips toward the atmosphere, so its exact entry and ultimate end can’t be predicted. It passed over Australia a few minutes ago, or should have if it didn’t disintegrate into the sea before that.
It will most likely fall into the sea, since that’s 70% of the earth’s surface. WordPress won’t let embed a tracker, but here’s Jonathan McDowell’s latest tweet. He makes a practice of tracking space junk.
Open thread!