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[Nilocy]

A russian missile was thought to be a UFO. Turns out it was a failed missile test. Quite pretty though

[Jackrabbit]

Well obviously all UFOs are Russians. During the Cold War, it was an effective way to dick with the Americans without fear of reprisal.

[Aqizzar]

Nobody knows what it was yet.  Well, except the people who put it there.  The Russian missile thing sounds extremely fishy to me, since it looks more like a spiral-shaded spotlight in the sky.



What kind of missile, failed or otherwise, does that?

[Nilocy]

At first I did think it was a spotlight... And started wondering whether it was a missile that basically lost its guidance systems and was just stuck spinning in a circle in the air. Like a roman candle...

[Cthulhu]

Yeah, it looks like it was just twirling.  Still crazy looking though, especially when it disappeared.

[Boksi]

I heard about this this morning on the radio. Weirded me out a little.

Failed missile test is a likely but very boring explanation.

[Mr Tk]

It actually closely matches simulations of an out of control rocket. They also took pictures of the vapour trail which was still visible in the dawn sun.

And also this which says it has been confirmed.

[Aqizzar]

Let me see if I have this straight.  Barack Obama goes to Norway to give a series of speeches about America's two wars while simultaneously accepting the Nobel Peace Prize.  The world watches.  Russia, by pure coincidence I'm sure, decides to test a new missile platform within sight of the conference on the same night.  Then the missile goes flying out of control, confusing everybody with what looked like an alien fireworks show.

I'm reminded of my cousin trying to egg a party, and then breaking the eggs in his hands.

[olemars]

Within sight? Norway's a small country but not that small. We're talking nearly 2000 Km between Oslo and the test site. And russian missiles pretty much fail routinely up there.

Pretty cool looking though:

[Aqizzar]

Within sight? Norway's a small country but not that small. We're talking nearly 2000 Km between Oslo and the test site.

Are you... trying to argue about something?  I said within sight, and it was within sight.  Was there some offense?

[Boksi]

He's saying that a missile test wouldn't be seen from Oslo, since the usual test site is almost 2000 km from it, and it's pretty common for missiles to fail and then they fail up there and not at Oslo.

[Aqizzar]

...but... they did see it from Oslo, didn't they?  That's what I'm saying, that Russia wanted to get all up in their business, but the missile went kaput.  How am I not understanding this?

[olemars]

They saw it from various cities and towns in northern Norway, not in Oslo which is in southeastern Norway. Norway is not a city-state We're pretty used to some misconceptions in internatiional press about our geography though, so I wouldn't be surprised if some of them thought the photos were from Oslo.

Wouldn't be surprised if the russians wanted to flex muscles a little, but usually they do that by sending a few supersonic strategic bombers or a nuclear battlecruiser off our western coast on "combat maneuvers". Missile tests in the arctic sea is too subtle for 'em (and, often enough, embarrasing. The missile in question has failed 8 out of 12 tests).

[Angellus]

What kind of missile, failed or otherwise, does that?

Maybe an object which travels trough the atmosfere with a rather high speed, thus interacting with it and breaking up? High speed atmosfere traveling seems to explain the ripples, the afterglow (pieces that get torn off and remain fiery for a while) and the main glow...

[Virex]

Nobody knows what it was yet.  Well, except the people who put it there.  The Russian missile thing sounds extremely fishy to me, since it looks more like a spiral-shaded spotlight in the sky.



What kind of missile, failed or otherwise, does that?

Are you sure it's not just a visual artifact?