Satellite debris mania: Texas fireball just....a meteor, caught on video

February 16, 9:48 AMSpace News ExaminerPatricia Phillips

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Over the weekend, reports of falling objects, sonic booms,--and even a few episodes of the Earth moving for some folks -- ignited a literal firestorm of satellite debris mania in Texas and Kentucky.  NOAA issued a weather warning about reported debris re-enty from the collision of a defunct Russian military communications satellite and a working Iridium telecommunications satellite.

The FAA issued a NOTAM to pilots:

"FDC 9/5902 FDC .. SPECIAL NOTICE .. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. AIRCRAFT ARE ADVISED THAT A POTENTIAL HAZARD MAY OCCUR DUE TO REENTRY OF SATELLITE DEBRIS INTO THE EARTHS ATMOSPHERE. FURTHER NOTAMS WILL BE ISSUED IF MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. IN THE INTEREST OF FLIGHT SAFETY, IT IS CRITICAL THAT ALL PILOTS/FLIGHT CREW MEMBERS REPORT ANY OBSERVED FALLING SPACE DEBRIS TO THE APPROPRIATE ATC FACILITY TO INCLUDE POSITION, ALTITUDE, TIME, AND DIRECTION OF DEBRIS OBSERVED."

So far, I haven't found any confirmed reports that debris from the collision had anything to do with the various sightings, sounds, or quivers.  But a cameraman for Austin's News 8 did capture some sensational video of a fireball as a marathon was underway. NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office identified it as a natural meteor.

Did you get a picture or video of  something streaking through the sky that you think might have been either space debris or a meteorite? Email me at spacenewsexaminer@hotmail.com    I'm preparing a slideshow of reader photos. on space, astronomy, and strange things in the skies. Join in!