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Space Weather News for January 19, 2003
http://www.spaceweather.com

The glittering Starshine 3 satellite, built by schoolkids and launched 
in Sept. 2001, will soon re-enter Earth's atmosphere. Can you spot the 
fireball? Re-entry estimates vary from 0500 UT (midnight EST) to 1330 
UT (8:30 EST) on Tuesday, Jan. 21st. Although Starshine is likely to 
re-enter above some unpopulated stretch of ocean, the satellite's 
final orbit does carry it over North America and eastern Europe where 
sky watchers might see it.

"There's no danger to anyone on the ground," says Prof. Gil Moore, the 
director of Project Starshine. "We designed the satellite so that it 
will be 100% consumed about 80 km up." Except for a few small steel 
screws the body of the spacecraft is made entirely of aluminum-- a 
substance that will vaporize during the bright and fiery descent.

Visit spaceweather.com for more information about Starshine 3 as well
as links to the latest re-entry predictions (they will improve between 
now and Tuesday) and photo tips, too!

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