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UFO Streaks Through Martian sky

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the break-out-the-foil-hats dept.

lkatz writes "The BBC is reporting that the Spirit rover has observed an object streaking across the Martian sky. They believe it was either a meteor or possibly the Viking 2 probe which still orbits Mars."

3 of 440 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Misleading title by Venner · · Score: 5, Informative

    Um, UFO = Unidentified Flying Object?

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    A preposition is a terrible thing to end a sentence with.
  2. Streaking was actually due to long exposure by Performer+Guy · · Score: 5, Informative

    As detailed in the initial NASA article the streaking was actually the result of a 15 second exposure of the sensor. It is likely that the actual object appeared as a bright moving dot against a dark sky. The length of the streak and exposure time gives NASA an estimate of speed for various theories based on the angle covered across the sensor in that 15 seconds. The data doesn't rule out a Viking orbiter but does rule out all other orbiters.

    Likely origin of the "UFO" - Earth. Cool, there's finally real evidence that the UFO sighted is actually from another planet. Unfortunately if it's true then it would really be an identified flying object, not an unidentified one.

  3. reduced drag by EaterOfDog · · Score: 5, Informative

    Satellites in low and medium orbits around earth are slowed by the earth's thick atmosphere. The relatively thin atmosphere of Mars would allow a spacecraft to orbit for MUCH longer at lower orbits due to reduced drag.

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    Crushing my karma one post at a time.