Did I See a Meteor or a Reentry? What does re-entry look like. (Aerospace.org)
THE GREAT STARLINK RE-ENTRY EVENT: SpaceX just conducted a giant uncontrolled experiment in atmospheric chemistry.
Earlier this year, analysts noticed something strange: Starlink satellites were falling out of the sky–a lot of them. Four to five per day were re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and vaporizing in plain sight. This went on for months. Between December 2024 and July 2025, more than 525 Starlinks deorbited.
What’s going on? In short: routine housecleaning. These were mostly first-generation (Gen1) satellites, deliberately retired to make room for newer models. SpaceX is currently launching up to 50 new Starlinks per week, maintaining a fleet of 8,000 satellites. Weeding out the old ones is just business as usual.
What’s not usual is the atmospheric fallout. The fiery re-entry of even one Gen1 Starlink satellite produces about 30 kilograms of aluminum oxide vapor, a compound that erodes the ozone layer. A new study finds these oxides have increased 8-fold between 2016 and 2022, and the Great Re-entry Event increases this pollution even more.
To put this into perspective: Before the first Starlink launches began in 2019, only about 40 to 50 satellites re-entered per year. SpaceX just brought down ten years’ worth in only six months, adding an estimated 15,000 kilograms of aluminum oxide to the upper atmosphere.
Right: A current map of Starlink satellites orbiting Earth. [more]
Even before the current surge, scientists were sounding the alarm. In February 2023, NASA flew a WB-57 aircraft over Alaska at 60,000 feet to collect stratospheric aerosols. A study published later that year found 10% of sampled particles contained aluminum and other metals from the “burn-up” of satellites.
With multiple companies racing to deploy megaconstellations, projections suggest more than 60,000 satellites could be in orbit by 2040. That means reentry debris could soon rival the natural influx of meteoroids, but with very different chemistry. Meteors are mostly rock. Satellites are mostly metal.
A simulation by NOAA scientists suggests that aluminum-rich space dust could heat the stratosphere and mesosphere by up to 1.5°C, and slow the southern polar vortex, potentially altering global weather patterns.
What happens next? We’re about to find out.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
MORNING SKY SHOW: Set your alarm for dawn. Jupiter and Venus are converging for a close encounter in the eastern twilight sky. At closest approach on Aug. 11-13, they will be less than 1 degree apart. Enjoy the show! Sky maps: Aug. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
What’s Up: August 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA
In August 2025, Venus and Jupiter will appear very close together in the morning sky, culminating in a conjunction on August 12th. They will be visible in the eastern sky before sunrise, gradually approaching each other throughout the first half of the month and then separating after the 12th. The planets will be close enough to appear as a striking pair, with their separation less than a degree at their closest point. (SOURCE: NASA Science Article)
All Month – Planet Visibility:
- Mercury: Pops up above the horizon during the second half of August. Appears very low, below 10 degrees altitude.
- Venus: Shines very brightly in the east each morning before sunrise, about 20 to 30 degrees above the horizon.
- Mars: Can be observed low in the west during the hour after sunset, appearing about as bright as the brightest stars in the Big Dipper.
- Jupiter: Appears in the east each morning, together with Venus, but much less bright.
- Saturn: Observable late night to dawn. Rises around 10:30 p.m. early in the month, and around 8:30 p.m. by the end of the month. Find it high in the south as sunrise approaches.
Skywatching Highlights:
- August 11 & 12 – Venus-Jupiter Conjunction – The two brightest planets have a close meetup over several days, appearing closest over two days on the 11th and 12th, at just a degree apart.
- August 19 & 20 – Moon with Jupiter & Venus – A slim lunar crescent joins Jupiter and Venus — still relatively close in the sky after their conjunction. They appear in the east in the several hours preceding sunrise.
- August 12th-13th – Perseids Peak – The celebrated annual meteor shower will be hampered by an 84%-full Moon on the peak night. A few bright meteors may still be seen in the pre-dawn hours, but viewing conditions are not ideal this year.
- August 23– Black Moon – The third New Moon in a season of four occurs about once every 33 months.
- All Month – The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) – One of the easiest planetary nebulas to observe, M27 appears within the Summer Triangle star pattern, high overhead in the first half of the night.
Daily Sun: 05 Aug 25
Sunspot 4168 has a delta-class magnetic fields that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. Credit: NASA/SDO
Coronal Holes: 05 Aug 25
Solar wind flowing from this southern coronal hole could reach Earth on Aug. 9-10. Credit: NASA/SDO | more data
Mayan Calendar Time
The Storm/CAUAC cycle restores Faith in the Power of the Lord of Creation. Hearts that reach in Faith are grasped by the Creator’s love. Storm/CAUAC offers the quickening of “lightning in the blood” – the sixth sense of the Heart. Today, 12 Dog/OC is time to Comprehend a Higher Truth. Whether we claim the Truth or not, this is God’s Creation and he holds the first and last Word and is the final authority of what happens in the future.
Psalm 24:1 KJV
24 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
The Sun: NASA | https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
The Sun is the star at the heart of our solar system. Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything — from the biggest planets to the smallest bits of debris — in its orbit.
TRECENA THE OF STORM/CAUAC – A RENEWAL AND REGENERATION OF SPIRIT
The “Tzolk’in Field Guide” is my gift to download that includes the Count of Days with the aspects for each Destiny Kin and highlights for a personal practice with each trecena. It’s designed as a companion for daily practice.
It only takes 13 days to see how Faith is always raised to Knowing the Truth of Answered Prayers. You only have to track your thoughts. Record the matters on your mind in a journal to see how your perspective is changed by a Divine Order of Thoughts.
Visit the 13-Day Trecena Guide. to download a free copy. Volume 1 covers the first two seasons of the Tzolk’in, and Volume 2 covers the 3rd and 4th to the end of the Tzolk’in round.
Storm/CAUAC is the 1st trecena of the second season of the Tzolk’in round, found in Volume 1. There’s something more to see when you discern the meaning of Time for yourself. The meaning of time is revealed by the thoughts on your mind.
NOTE: If at any time you get lost in the chaos and forget what you’re doing, Tone 1 reflects the 1st Light of Divine Inspiration as the “legend” of this chapter of Time.
12 Dog/OC, Cherokee, Wolf/KANA’TI – Day 12 of 13 of the 1 Storm/CAUAC Trecena
Descriptions by Ian Xel Lungold (12 Sun/AHAU), wisdom and Tzolk’in calculator preserved on MayanMajix.com
Galactic Tone 12: Understanding. This number’s energy is a gift of great capability of retrospection. It is this ability that allows Twelve to connect disassociated parts into a (new) functioning whole. The energy of Twelve is that which presents a new piece of understood information or accumulated experience to be applied.
Dog/OC: Courageous, loyal and warm-hearted, very alert and valiant, people born of Dog are respected for their sense of justice and their protection. People born of the sun sign Dog are very sensual and know how to enjoy life. Playfulness and a good understanding of the basic human nature lead to prosperity for Dog. Dogs are good team players who love to travel and have a keen sense of their position in society. Dogs are ambitious and will take opportunities when they offer themselves, including infidelities. Dog persons share the nature of coyotes, spies, wolves and lawyers.
A GOOD DAY TO: Enjoy family and friends.
Cherokee, Wolf/KANA’TI: Wolf is symbolized by Sirius (Dog star) and Antares, one or the other always visible but never at the same time. Wolf is our brother, shares our very roots. All dogs are domesticated wolves, companionship and guidance. Wolves are a connecting link between the worlds; ones who inspire loyalty, diplomacy and sense of humor with unlimited potential. Wolf is the Day Sign of teachers, healers, pathfinders and transformers; sharp as obsidian, gentle as a lamb.
Sirius, the “Sun of our Heart” is rising in the Lion’s Gate.
[Text in italics was the primary source of inspiration for my journal. These are the sources that started my journey and they are the reference for interpretation each day. By providing the original text, I hope to offer a way to see what inspired my thoughts and by including all the aspects – allow for something more to inspire you. Mayan descriptions are those written by Ian Lungold. Cherokee descriptions came from multiple sources. Links to sources and other resources of study are offered on the Daykeeper Resources Page. ~Debra]
