In the south and west

Possible “apparitions” in the night sky over Tyrol

The ISS space station

(Bild: NASA)

In Carinthia, Tyrol and Vorarlberg, there could be mysterious luminous phenomena in the night sky and a sonic boom on Friday evening. But don't panic: The possible spectacle has an explainable reason.

A jettisoned battery pack from the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere on Friday, possibly splintering in the process. Debris could also graze the airspace over Carinthia, Tyrol and Vorarlberg, according to reports from the provincial governments, citing information from the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance.

Impact "extremely unlikely"
Light phenomena and a sonic boom caused by the debris are possible. An impact of fragments on the earth's surface is "extremely unlikely". The overflight times concern the south-east of Carinthia from 4.20 to 4.50 pm and the south-west between 8.55 and 9.25 pm. In Vorarlberg and Tyrol, flare phenomena or the perception of a sonic boom can be expected between 8.45 and 9.15 pm.

Transparent, rapid and broad public information is essential in such cases in order to make people as aware as possible of unusual lights and noises and to prevent panic in advance.

Elmar Rizzoli, Leiter des Zentrums für Krisen- und Katastrophenmanagement des Landes Tirol

Bild: Land Tirol

Experts are following developments closely
No danger to humans is currently assumed. Elmar Rizzoli, Head of the Centre for Crisis and Disaster Management of the Province of Tyrol, explains: "Transparent, rapid and broad public information is essential in such cases in order to make people as aware as possible of unusual lights and noises and to prevent panic in advance."

Even if, according to the current state of knowledge, only light effects and a sonic boom are to be expected, "we are following developments closely and are in close contact with the Ministry of the Interior and the neighboring provinces of Vorarlberg and Carinthia, which are also affected. If the situation changes, further information will be provided immediately," Rizzoli continued.

Will the battery pack burn up?
Europe's former head of space travel Jan Wörner believes the risk of debris is low. "Batteries love to burn. I assume that the package will burn up almost completely in the atmosphere," said Wörner. "Perhaps the disintegration will be seen as a beautiful shooting star." A hit on an inhabited area is unlikely.