[meteorite-list] Satellite Reentry Witness 4

[Kevin Forbes]

G'day all,

This event occured in either 1979, 1980 or 1981. I was standing on the 
platform of the Yarraville railway station (western Melbourne, Australia, 
suburb) awaiting the arrival of my ride home from visiting a workmate. I 
believe I was looking to the North, across the railway line, when I spotted 
what I thought was the light from an aircraft making an approach to 
Tullamarine airport. The light was low on the horizon, about 10-15 degrees 
above it. After a few seconds it seperated into several glowing fragments, 
and then a shower of debris, all travelling at the same leisurely pace 
across the sky. It was visible for about 20 seconds before it faded out. At 
first I thought I had seen an aircraft breaking up in flight, but after no 
aeroplane crashes were reported, it became obvious that what I had witnessed 
was the re-entry of a satellite. I will never forget it, and I have not seen 
another one since. I have seen many, many meteorites streak across the sky 
and the slowest of those was still much faster than the re-entry that I had 
witnessed. They are indeed a rare thing to behold.

Kevin Forbes, VK3UKF.