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Flying Object May Be Meteor, Echo Satellite

Flying Object May Be Meteor, Echo Satellite image
Parent Issue
Day
22
Month
July
Year
1964
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
OCR Text

Flying Object May Be Meteor, Echo Satellite

“There is a possibility that some of the reports of unidentified flying objects seen in this area and other parts of the state the past few days may involve either “fire ball” meteors or the Echo II satellite,” Prof. Fred T. Haddock, director of the University’s Radio astronomy Observatory, said today.

Haddock who is professor of both astronomy and electrical engineering, said yesterday that he and several other persons observed one of the largest "fire ball” meteors that he had ever seen sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight Saturday.

The big meteor left a red trail as it burned across the sky from west to east in an arc that appeared to be at the level of a low-flying plane. Large meteors with fiery tails are referred to as “fire balls,” he explained.

The U-M professor also said he had noticed a very bright object moving from south to north Saturday night and checked it out as Echo II Satellite. He said this satellite, which appears brighter than any star or planet and is on a 109-minute course is likely to be observed on any reasonably clear night.