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Syne
Sep 11, 2025 05:48 AM
(Sep 11, 2025 04:39 AM)Yazata Wrote: It looked oval or elliptical to me. Interestingly, the longer axis didn't appear directed in the line of (apparent?) motion. When the missile struck it, it seemed to lose its elliptical shape and became more irregular, which might be consistent with it having been a deflating balloon.
That's what I see.
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Magical Realist
Sep 11, 2025 05:58 AM
Helium balloons don't speed along horizontally at sea level, much less deflated ones. Gravity and all.
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Syne
Sep 11, 2025 06:40 AM
Like Yaz said, parallax motion from the camera drone.
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Zinjanthropos
Sep 11, 2025 01:41 PM
(Sep 11, 2025 06:40 AM)Syne Wrote: Like Yaz said, parallax motion from the camera drone.
Agree. From the time the Hellfire appears on screen to impact is about 1 second. The missile travels at 440m/sec (faster than sound) and probably moving up or down somewhat vertical, not horizontal. The object appears to be moving faster than the missile catching up with it. No expert but I was wondering how an impact would be possible unless the object was moving much slower than appears, seeing how depth perception is skewed in these images.
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confused2
Sep 11, 2025 06:28 PM
To get a possible estimate of speed..
If the wave crests are 20 feet apart and it covers 3 in a second .. 60 feet/sec or about 60 mph. The path it followed wasn't what I would have expected from an object blown by the wind .. but that's just me.
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Syne
Sep 11, 2025 07:12 PM
If it is parallax motion, the apparent speed would not match that of the camera, as it would also be dependent on the distance from the object and the ocean.
A Reaper drone's cruise speed (airspeed) is 120 mph, but actual speed, relative to the ground (groundspeed), would also depend on the wind speed and direction. In a strong headwind, it's groundspeed could be significantly slower.
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Magical Realist
Sep 11, 2025 07:56 PM
(This post was last modified: Sep 11, 2025 07:58 PM by Magical Realist.)
(Sep 11, 2025 06:28 PM)confused2 Wrote: To get a possible estimate of speed..
If the wave crests are 20 feet apart and it covers 3 in a second .. 60 feet/sec or about 60 mph. The path it followed wasn't what I would have expected from an object blown by the wind .. but that's just me.
Yeah..if you ever watch a balloon on a windy day it goes this way and that and speeds up and slows down. It doesn't travel in a straight line at a constant speed. Skeptics like Mick West over at Metabunk use the old windblown balloon canard for just about every UAP video. You'd think there are millions of them out there! lol
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Syne
Sep 11, 2025 08:05 PM
The object could be relatively stationary, if it is parallax motion.
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confused2
Sep 11, 2025 08:09 PM
(This post was last modified: Sep 11, 2025 08:27 PM by confused2.)
(Sep 11, 2025 07:12 PM)Syne Wrote: If it is parallax motion, the apparent speed would not match that of the camera, as it would also be dependent on the distance from the object and the ocean.
A Reaper drone's cruise speed (airspeed) is 120 mph, but actual speed, relative to the ground (groundspeed), would also depend on the wind speed and direction. In a strong headwind, it's groundspeed could be significantly slower.
Let's try for a guess at the speed the background waves are moving relative to the thing.. before we allow for parralax .. I'm going with 20 feet between crests and about 3 a second .. make your own estimate. .. ???
I'd say the drone [camera] is roughly holding position with the thing .. so the thing is moving left to right in a 60 mph wind .. the following drone is moving left to right at 60mph with a following wind of 60 mph .. drone's speed relative to the air is therefore zero and the drone drops out of the sky.
So.. is the thing moving at about 60mph without a wind to drive it?
Edit .. or the camera was on a helicopter.. without other information I'd go with that.
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Zinjanthropos
Sep 11, 2025 08:45 PM
(Sep 11, 2025 07:56 PM)Magical Realist Wrote: [quote="confused2" pid="75875" dateline="1757611698"]
You'd think there are millions of them out there! lol
Google AI.
Quote:. Weather Balloons
Daily Launches: Nearly 1,800 weather balloons are launched around the world every day.
Another site said thousands but this number seems more realistic. Apparently most only last a few hours and burst unless shot down.
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