but this is the part I’m wondering about.
See how fast the ICBM is moving?
How realistic is that? I imagine “not much” but I don’t have any data to confirm that. pic.twitter.com/msPVjVqoIY— foone (@Foone) November 15, 2019
That is realistic as to speed. It would be moving that velocity or faster. ICBMs re-enter the atmosphere at 6-7km/s. Air resistance starts slowing them down but they are quite aerodynamic, so they’d still be going 3-4km/s by the time they got close to the ground. Also note that the re-entry vehicle is not the missile you see flying. The RVs are shaped like sharp bullets. Like this:
Also: regardless of speed, could you see it at this distance? It’s not going to have a rocket engine going, it’s purely ballistic at this point.
— foone (@Foone) November 15, 2019
Yes, you would be able to see it at night. No rocket engine, but remember how I said that ICBM RVs enter the atmosphere at 6-7km/s? That means they generate massive air friction and their external components quickly start glowing red- or white-hot. There’s some kind of aluminum lattice that shields the vital components, and some other things I can’t remember, but anyway, the re-entry vehicle would glow at night, and brightly enough that you’d definitely be able to see your doom arriving.