What is the Sky Canvas Project?

About Sky Canvas Project:

• It is the world’s first artificial meteor shower project.
• The aim of the project will be to collect atmospheric data in the mesosphere.
• Under this project, meteor-replicating particles will be installed in a satellite 250 miles (400 km) up and then released over a designated area.
• These metallic particles will be spheres with a diameter of 0.4 inches (1 cm) and a mass of a few grams.
• The pea-sized balls have a secret chemical formula that causes them to light up from the friction of re-entry at speeds of up to five miles (8km) a second. 
• ALE says they will travel more slowly and light up for longer than natural shooting stars – up to ten seconds each.
• They will be visible over a 125-mile (200 km) area. 
• The ingredients in the pellets can be altered to change the colour, which means that a multi-coloured flotilla of shooting stars could be created. 

What is Mesosphere?

• The mesosphere is a layer of Earth’s atmosphere.
• It is directly above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere.
• It extends from about 50 to 85 km (31 to 53 miles) above our planet.
• The transition between the mesosphere and the thermosphere is called mesopause.
• Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere. 
• The coldest temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere, about -90° C (-130° F), are found near the top of this layer.

Q1) What is a Meteor?

A meteor is a space rock or meteoroid that enters earth’s atmosphere. Meteor showers can be viewed from earth without the use of binoculars or a telescope. When meteor showers occur, they originate from one point in the sky. They happen when space debris enters the earth’s atmosphere 

Source: Artificial meteor showers could soon be a reality: Report

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