UPDATE: At 10:26 EST (February 20th 2008) the US Navy warship USS Lake Erie fired a tactical missile at the rogue satellite USA 193. The missile successfully intercepted the satellite, blowing it up as it flew over the Pacific at a height of nearly 250 km. The majority of the debris is likely to enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up over the next day or so.

 

BBC Sky At Night magazine’s staff writer Will Gater explains how to see spy satellite USA 193 - before it’s shot down

Now is a great time to spot the out-of-control American spy satellite, USA 193. To prevent the rogue satellite falling to the ground, and possibly spreading hazardous material and debris, the US navy is planning to shoot it down in the coming weeks.

Before they do so, grab your chance to glimpse this stricken satellite in the night sky – despite being top secret it’ll be easy to spot.

To see the satellite, you need to know when and where it will appear – you can find this information on the Heavens Above website (www.heavens-above.com). You should be able to find a bright pass that’s not too late at night.

For example, if you live in Bristol you’ll be able to see USA 193 just after 18:23 on 22 February. The satellite will first appear in the southwest before climbing to the southeast and disappearing in the east-northeast some four minutes later.

In London, a convenient pass occurs on 23 February at 18:17, when it will be high in the north-northwest sky. And from Glasgow, look out on 25 February – it’ll reach the apex of its arc across the sky at 19:29.

If you live elsewhere, go to www.heavens-above.com to find out when USA 193 passes over your hometown. But you’ll need to be quick – USA 193’s orbit is decaying by the day as it encounters the upper parts of the Earth’s atmosphere, where drag is slowing it down. This decrease in height will get quicker as the satellite falls ever lower, so get out now to spot this secret spectacle.