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Hi again List,
A while ago, the portuguese TV SIC presented a portion of
an amateur video made by a portuguese woman from the Algarve, showing
the bright object reported on my previous email to the
List.
From what I could see in this video, the object appeared
to be moving almost paralled to the horizon, several degrees above local tree
level, and moving fast "from right to left". It portrayed an almost
straight, a few degrees long, luminous "trail". I don't know in which
direction was the video-camera facing.
From this video clip, I did notice that the object did not
show a bright "head".
A Mr. José Miguel Reis, who witnessed the phenomenon
from Penodeno, Portugal, mentioned that it appeared to move as a luminous
point coming from the north, on a slight curved path moving fast towards the
west; he claimed that neither its speed or its trajectory were constant. (???)
and that it did not move like an aircraft.
SIC TV also reported that the object was noticed by the
portuguese air force ground radar and thata spoke person for the Air Force said
that it lasted for about 3 minutes, moving at some 800 km/h and that
during its path it was detected at heights of 50.000 feet, 30.000 and 7.000
feet.
Astronomer José Matos said that it might have been the reflex
(flash) of an Iridium satellite, orbiting at some 780 km height. He suggested
that it might be seen again tonight (Wed.) at about the same time as last night
(23h15 Lisbon time).
Certainly, the air force ground radar would not be able to
pick up satellites at that height, and the several witnesses over the country,
would not mention seen a smoke trail, if it was in fact, a flash of an Iridium
satelitte.
It appears to me that it was, most probably, a satellite
re-entry. Can any List member confirm if there was any satellite/space debris
predicted for a re-entry over Portugal around that time/date?
José Campos
Portugal
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