According to a very reliable source (NASA — National Association of Santa Admirers) a manned craft that is only visible once a year just after the December Solstice is again heading toward the Earth, reaching perigee of its polar orbit on December 25 and is likely to enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
It seems to be known as either “Santasat” (after its captain) or “Sleighsat.”
It will likely pass close to your longitude some time between midnight and dawn during the morning of December 25, following along a computed trajectory in which it will pass over all parts of our world during local darkness.
There have been a number of unsuccessful attempts to reconcile the orbit using conventional orbital mechanics but it seems none have come up with a
satisfactory explanation for the orbit and for its capacity to land at many selected locations . . . then re-launch. Although the eccentricity of the orbit may be in question, that of the pilot appears to be reasonably well
established!
Normally, this is not a visible object, and in fact there are believed to be severe penalties for successful observation such as loss of observation of any gifts later in the morning (after local sunrise).
However, for those who are interested, there will be a wonderful opportunity to catch a fleeting glimpse of this object early on Christmas morning, before sunrise.
Should local skies be no worse than partly cloudy on Christmas morning, prospective viewers should be outside no later than 5:46 a.m. and concentrate on that part of the sky more or less directly overhead. From literally out of nowhere, a “moving star” should become readily visible, ramping up in brightness, ultimately to become the brightest object in the sky! It should appear to glow with an amber-hue.
It will appear to move toward the southeast, remaining in view for approximately 189-seconds. Young children (as well as adults who are still young at heart) might want to head outside to get a look.
We sincerely hope that some of the payload is jettisoned at your location, and that you are given clear skies. Most of all I wish you a happy and prosperous holiday season.
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
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