Cosmos 1220 re-entry observed from Saudi Arabia

From: Ted Molczan <ssl3molcz_at_rogers.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2014 10:25:41 -0500
>From Saudi Arabia, there are news reports and videos of sightings of the re-entry fireball of Cosmos 1220 (80089A /
12054).

Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5YEPvlWmjo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wV7aDhrxng

Newspapers:

http://sabq.org/Y5Rfde

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/russian-satellite-kosmos1220-burned-up-in-atmosphere-claims-defence-ministry-o
fficial-9133157.html

Paul Maley passed on the information that sightings had been reported at Al-Madinah, Jiddah, Mecca and Taif. The
re-entry trajectory passed above the horizon of each of those locations between approximately 01:41 and 01:42 UTC.
Typical track from those locations was from azimuth 350 deg to azimuth 140 deg (N-SE). Culmination occurred neared
azimuth 65 deg (ENE). Lowest elevation at culmination was at Jiddah, about 11 deg; highest was at Al-Madinah, about 24
deg. Estimated elevation at culmination is accurate to several degrees.

The left to right motion of the fireball in the first of the above videos is consistent with observation from a position
to the west of the track, perhaps from one of the above-named locations. The second video shows a right to left motion,
indicating that the observer was located east of the track.

Last month, Jan 16 UTC, sightings of the re-entry of the rocket body that launched Zhongxing 9 (2008-028B / 33052) were
reported from Saudi Arabia, including Al-Madinah.

Thank you Daniel Fischer, Paul Maley and Jon Mikel for alerting me to this news and for sharing relevant information.

Ted Molczan


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Received on Mon Feb 17 2014 - 15:26:32 UTC

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