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Ground-based optical observations of the orbital debris environment
Space debris encompasses both natural meteoroid and artificial (human-made) orbital debris. Meteoroids are in orbit about the sun, while most artificial debris is in orbit about the Earth (hence the term “orbital” debris). Orbital debris is the term for any object in Earth orbit that no longer serves a useful function. These objects include non-operational spacecraft, derelict launch vehicle stages, mission-related debris, and fragmentation debris. NASA - Orbital Debris Management and Risk Mitigation
NOAA 6-7
1979 - 1987
NOAA-6 and NOAA-7 were part of the third generation of NOAA’s low Earth-orbiting Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES). In addition to making regular meteorological observations, they monitored various aspects of the environment, such as ice and snow cover, agriculture, ozone, the surrounding space environment, and more. NOAA-7 was deactivated in 1986.
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NOAA 6 (COSPAR ID: 1979-057A , SATCAT: 11416) orbital debris overpass from south to north. Elevation: ~69°. Altitude (Perigee: 764.63 km, Apogee: 777.76 km).
Type of orbital debris: derelict launch vehicle stages. Observation date 29.10.2025. 6:14 PM CET. Images: enhanced, infrared and original non-enhanced image. Full spectrum Nikon D7000 with exposure of 25 seconds. Moon phase: First Quarter.
NOAA 6 (COSPAR ID: 1979-057A , SATCAT: 11416) orbital debris overpass from south to north. Elevation: ~59.85°. Altitude (Perigee: 764.38 km, Apogee: 777.97 km).
Type of orbital debris: derelict launch vehicle stages. Observation date 04.11.2025. 6:06 PM CET. Images: infrared, enhanced and original non-enhanced image. Full spectrum Nikon D7000 with exposure of 20 seconds. Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous.
NOAA 6 (COSPAR ID: 1979-057A , SATCAT: 11416) orbital debris overpass from south to north. Elevation: ~49.64°. Altitude (Perigee: 763.20 km, Apogee: 778.86 km).
Type of orbital debris: derelict launch vehicle stages. Observation date 09.12.2025. 5:58 PM CET. Images: enhanced images. Full spectrum Nikon D7000 with exposure of 25 seconds. Moon phase: Waning Gibbous.
NOAA 6 (COSPAR ID: 1979-057A , SATCAT: 11416) orbital debris overpass from south to north. Elevation: ~63.53°. Altitude (Perigee: 763.33 km, Apogee: 778.63 km).
Type of orbital debris: derelict launch vehicle stages. Observation date 26.12.2025. 6:11 PM CET. Images: original and enhanced images. Full spectrum Nikon D7000 with exposure of 25 seconds. Moon phase: Waxing Crescent.
NOAA 6 (COSPAR ID: 1979-057A , SATCAT: 11416) orbital debris overpass from south to north. Elevation: ~75.68°. Altitude (Perigee: 763.47 km, Apogee: 778.45 km).
Type of orbital debris: derelict launch vehicle stages. Observation date 31.12.2025. 6:39 PM CET. Images: original and enhanced images. Full spectrum Nikon D7000 with exposure of 20 seconds. Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous.
Brightness change of maximum brightness-flare and minimum brightness-faint indicate that NOAA 6 is tumbling.
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