News Cut: February 17, 2008 Archive

The lost city of Lake Mille Lacs

Posted at 9:28 AM on February 17, 2008 by Bob Collins (3 Comments)

We probably take winter for granted in these parts, but imagine how the site of dozens -- hundreds -- of ice houses on a frozen lake must look to the rest of the world.

A flying acquaintance, Alex Peterson, flew over Lake Mille Lacs this weekend and provided a couple of photos for a Texas-based Web site.

There are probably some sociological studies to be done about why we put ice houses next to each other on a vast lake, when we're trying to --among other things -- "get away from it all."

Of course, these are like the lost cities, since they must disappear in less than two weeks.

Comment on this post

Find the falling satellite

Posted at 4:49 PM on February 17, 2008 by Bob Collins (5 Comments)

I added this to the comments section on the post downstream figuring the odds of being hit by a falling satellite. But in case you didn't see it:

If you want to see the satellite that is falling from orbit, I understand it's a particularly impressive site in its low orbit.

If the clouds clear, St. Paulites can see it tonight (Sunday) at 5 seconds before 7 10 degrees above the SSW horizon to 27 degrees above the SSE horizon.

Tuesday may be the best chance as it goes directly overhead. At 6:46:57 p.m., look 10 degrees above the SW horizon. In about 3 1/2 minutes it descends 23 degrees above the NE horizon....with its highest point being pretty much directly overhead -- 82 degrees above the NW horizon.

Update Mon 7:03 p.m. - The Heaven's Above site is giving different data now for Tuesday. I don't know the exact reason for the changes but maybe the orbit is changing that much. It went a little to our East tonight (Monday) and should've split Orion's Belt at 6:54, but, alas, there was a line of thin clouds and we didn't see it at Casa Collins.

Update Tues. 3:42 p.m. - Here's a good account of how this shoot-down is supposed to work. Turns out there's no warhead on the missile. Just good old fashion energy. I've seen a blog entry somewhere today that suggests tomorrow night (Wednesday) is the night, but I don't think the orbit has decayed enough yet.

Comment on this post