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January 09, 2024

Iphone Still Working After 16,000-Ft Freefall

Search Continues for Alaska ASA1282 Debris

An Alaska Airlines passenger's phone has been found more than a day after being sucked out the vacant emergency door in-flight, still operational and showing a baggage claim receipt. The phone had been pulled out rapidly at more than 16,000 feet, quite violently judging by the shredded remains of the power cable it was connected to. The phone was found by a party searching for the missing door and associated paneling, who also mentioned it was the second such cell phone the NTSB had recovered.

NASA Publishes A Few January Skywatching Tips

NASA reminds us that the moderate Quadrantid meteor shower has been active since Dec. 28 and will continue to Jan. 12. The moon will wash out faint meteors, but the shower often produces bright "fireball" meteors. Look for brilliant Venus rising with a slim crescent moon in the southeast, in the hour before sunrise, on Monday, Jan. 8. The moon will appear very close to the bright red star Antares, appearing to pass in front of the star for observers in parts of the Western U.S. On Jan. 13 and 14, the crescent moon will be visible with Saturn for observers in the southwest for a couple of hours following sunset.