artist impression of catalogued objects in low-Earth orbit

This is a computer generated image provided by the European Space Agency which shows an artist impression of catalogued objects in low-Earth orbit viewed over the Equator. Scientists are keeping a close eye on orbital debris created when two communications satellites one American, the other Russian — smashed into each other hundreds of miles above Siberia Tuesday Feb. 10, 2009.Think of it as a galactic garbage dump. With a recent satellite collision still fresh on minds, participants at a meeting Thursday Feb. 19, 2009 in the Austrian capital Vienna are discussing ways to deal with space debris junk that is clogging up the Earth's orbit.

(AP Photo/ESA)