In article ,
"Jim Oberg" wrote:

One year ago, the Briz-M sat atop a Russian Proton rocket that left Earth on
Feb. 28, 2006, carrying an Arabsat-4A communications satellite. Shortly
after launch, the rocket malfunctioned, leaving the satellite in the wrong
orbit and the Briz-M looping around Earth partially-filled with fuel. On
Feb. 19, 2007, for reasons unknown, the fuel ignited over Australia.

Jon P. Boers of the USAF Space Surveillance System confirms the ID and notes
"later, on the other side of the world, our RADAR saw 500+ pieces in that
orbit." Some of the fragments are visible in this movie made by Rob McNaught
at the Siding Spring Observatory, NSW, Australia:

http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod200.../mcnaught1.gif

That's some great photography.

Anybody know what altitude (perigee) that stuff is in, and how long it's
expected to take to decay?

Best,
- Joe