The relevant regime for astronomical entities is in above the 'high-hypersonic' and into 're-entry speeds' (uber-sonic?). These are above Mach 25.
At these speeds, not only is the air no-longer considered an ideal gas, nor a two-temperature ideal gas, nor a dissociated gas (O2 and N2 become O and N along the wings), nor an ionized gas (electron temperature must now be considered), but rather a radiation dominated gas. Modeling these radiation dominant gases is very hard. As you increase the number of volumes to model, the computation load grows exponentially.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Great_Daylight_Fireball
http://www.phys.ncku.edu.tw/~astrolab/mirrors/apod_e/image/0...
Angular speed across FoV is a function of distance from the object and the only thing that makes us understand that high altitude airplanes are nowhere close to a standstill is that we can infer distance from the intrinsic knowledge of the airplane size.
If all observers are close enough together we'd be unable to uncover the illusion, as that would require a widespread enough configuration.
Additionally, I question the "astronomical" attribute, especially with planes cruising at ~800kph, Mach 2 is at most 2.5 their typical speed. Concorde is hardly astronomical, and although jet fighters are not chasing for top speed anymore some of them are still able to go to such Mach factors. Now, Mach 12, that would be closing in to being astronomical (entering the order of magnitude of an ICBM descent speed).
I'm guessing only the final stage would still be airborne/in space once it orbited around to populated areas. And the second/final stage should be deliberately de-orbited for exactly this reason, right?
Man A (ATC?): There's nothing showing on either primary or secondary
Woman A: Ok, it was moving so fast. [Inaudible]
Man A: Alongside you?
Woman A: Yes, it was rapidly [inaudible] bright light and then it just disappeared at a very high speed. I am still wondering. Didn't think it was likely collision course. Wondering what sort it could be.
Man B: Meteor or another object. Some kind of re-entry. Seem to be multiple objects following the same sort of trajectory. Very bright where we were
Woman B (ATC?): Ok, that's copy, so what's the direction it was going in.
Man B: Virgin 76 [inaudible] saw that NRS 11-o'clock position two bright lights.
Woman B: Roger that's copy, thank you.
Man C: So that wasn't just me?
Man B: No. Yeah, very interesting, that one.
Man B: Virgin 76. I saw two bright lights 11 o'clock. Seem to bank over to the right and then climb away. Speed at least Mach [inaudible]
Woman B: Okay, we're passing that on, thank you.
Man D (or is it Man A?): [inaudible] 94 Shannon.
Man D: Just to let you know that other aircrafts in the area have also reported the same thing. So we're going to have a look and see.
Man E: Speed was astronomical. It was like Mach 2.
Man D: Roger, OK. Thank you.