Strange Light Formation that Morphed in the Sky Tonight | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 512476 United States 09/19/2009 09:37 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 688707 United States 09/19/2009 09:38 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Someone posted this on twitter .. thought this might explain the light sightings ... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 755536[link to www.nasa.gov] Night Time Artificial Cloud Study Using NASA Sounding Rocket 09/10/09 A rocket experiment that may shed light on the highest clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere was conducted from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on September 19, 2009. The experiment was launched on a NASA Black Brant XII Sounding Rocket. Black Brant Sounding Rocket The Charged Aerosol Release Experiment (CARE) was conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory and the Department of Defense Space Test Program using a NASA four-stage Black Brant XII suborbital sounding rocket. Using ground based instruments and the STP/NRL STPSat-1 spacecraft, scientists will study an artificial noctilucent cloud formed by the exhaust particles of the rocket’s fourth stage at about 173 miles altitude. Ground based cameras and radars were based at various observation stations along the Atlantic coast and in Bermuda. Because of the optical observations, the launch required clear skies not only at Wallops but also at the multiple observation stations. The Spatial Heterodyne IMager for MEsospheric Radicals instrument on the STPSat-1 spacecraft will track the CARE dust cloud for days or even months. The SHIMMER instrument has previously viewed natural noctilucent clouds for the past two years. The CARE is the first space viewing of an artificial noctilucent cloud. Data collected during the experiment will provide insight into the formation, evolution, and properties of noctilucent clouds, which are typically observed naturally at high latitudes. In addition to the understanding of noctilucent clouds, scientists will use the experiment to validate and develop simulation models that predict the distribution of dust particles from rocket motors in the upper atmosphere. Natural noctilucent clouds, also known as polar mesospheric clouds, are found in the upper atmosphere as spectacular displays that are most easily seen just after sunset. The clouds are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, located in the mesosphere around 50 miles altitude. They are normally too faint to be seen with the naked eye and are visible only when illuminated by sunlight from below the horizon while the Earth’s surface is in darkness. A team from government agencies and universities, led by the Naval Research Laboratory, is conducting the experiment. In addition to the Naval Research Laboratory, participants include the DoD STP, NASA, University of Michigan, Air Force Research Laboratory, Clemson University, Stanford University, University of Colorado, Penn State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Haystack Observatory. Case closed in my opinion. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 775069 United States 09/19/2009 09:39 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 755536 United States 09/19/2009 09:41 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I saw the same thing at 7:45pm. But I am in Massachusetts near the New Hamphire border. It was in the south sky. It looked like a flashlight pointing down from the sky with a smokey fog below it.The light moved from left to right as if someone was swinging the light from side to side before it faded. Exactly! It looked like a flashlight pointing down from the sky .. great description! |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 765377 United States 09/19/2009 09:41 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Someone posted this on twitter .. thought this might explain the light sightings ... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 755536[link to www.nasa.gov] Night Time Artificial Cloud Study Using NASA Sounding Rocket 09/10/09 A rocket experiment that may shed light on the highest clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere was conducted from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on September 19, 2009. The experiment was launched on a NASA Black Brant XII Sounding Rocket. Black Brant Sounding Rocket The Charged Aerosol Release Experiment (CARE) was conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory and the Department of Defense Space Test Program using a NASA four-stage Black Brant XII suborbital sounding rocket. Using ground based instruments and the STP/NRL STPSat-1 spacecraft, scientists will study an artificial noctilucent cloud formed by the exhaust particles of the rocket’s fourth stage at about 173 miles altitude. Ground based cameras and radars were based at various observation stations along the Atlantic coast and in Bermuda. Because of the optical observations, the launch required clear skies not only at Wallops but also at the multiple observation stations. The Spatial Heterodyne IMager for MEsospheric Radicals instrument on the STPSat-1 spacecraft will track the CARE dust cloud for days or even months. The SHIMMER instrument has previously viewed natural noctilucent clouds for the past two years. The CARE is the first space viewing of an artificial noctilucent cloud. Data collected during the experiment will provide insight into the formation, evolution, and properties of noctilucent clouds, which are typically observed naturally at high latitudes. In addition to the understanding of noctilucent clouds, scientists will use the experiment to validate and develop simulation models that predict the distribution of dust particles from rocket motors in the upper atmosphere. Natural noctilucent clouds, also known as polar mesospheric clouds, are found in the upper atmosphere as spectacular displays that are most easily seen just after sunset. The clouds are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, located in the mesosphere around 50 miles altitude. They are normally too faint to be seen with the naked eye and are visible only when illuminated by sunlight from below the horizon while the Earth’s surface is in darkness. A team from government agencies and universities, led by the Naval Research Laboratory, is conducting the experiment. In addition to the Naval Research Laboratory, participants include the DoD STP, NASA, University of Michigan, Air Force Research Laboratory, Clemson University, Stanford University, University of Colorado, Penn State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Haystack Observatory. Well, if NASA has an explanation for the light then it's almost a certainty that it was a UFO. |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 755536 United States 09/19/2009 09:43 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Someone posted this on twitter .. thought this might explain the light sightings ... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 688707[link to www.nasa.gov] Night Time Artificial Cloud Study Using NASA Sounding Rocket 09/10/09 A rocket experiment that may shed light on the highest clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere was conducted from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on September 19, 2009. The experiment was launched on a NASA Black Brant XII Sounding Rocket. Black Brant Sounding Rocket The Charged Aerosol Release Experiment (CARE) was conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory and the Department of Defense Space Test Program using a NASA four-stage Black Brant XII suborbital sounding rocket. Using ground based instruments and the STP/NRL STPSat-1 spacecraft, scientists will study an artificial noctilucent cloud formed by the exhaust particles of the rocket’s fourth stage at about 173 miles altitude. Ground based cameras and radars were based at various observation stations along the Atlantic coast and in Bermuda. Because of the optical observations, the launch required clear skies not only at Wallops but also at the multiple observation stations. The Spatial Heterodyne IMager for MEsospheric Radicals instrument on the STPSat-1 spacecraft will track the CARE dust cloud for days or even months. The SHIMMER instrument has previously viewed natural noctilucent clouds for the past two years. The CARE is the first space viewing of an artificial noctilucent cloud. Data collected during the experiment will provide insight into the formation, evolution, and properties of noctilucent clouds, which are typically observed naturally at high latitudes. In addition to the understanding of noctilucent clouds, scientists will use the experiment to validate and develop simulation models that predict the distribution of dust particles from rocket motors in the upper atmosphere. Natural noctilucent clouds, also known as polar mesospheric clouds, are found in the upper atmosphere as spectacular displays that are most easily seen just after sunset. The clouds are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, located in the mesosphere around 50 miles altitude. They are normally too faint to be seen with the naked eye and are visible only when illuminated by sunlight from below the horizon while the Earth’s surface is in darkness. A team from government agencies and universities, led by the Naval Research Laboratory, is conducting the experiment. In addition to the Naval Research Laboratory, participants include the DoD STP, NASA, University of Michigan, Air Force Research Laboratory, Clemson University, Stanford University, University of Colorado, Penn State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Haystack Observatory. Case closed in my opinion. It may be what we saw .. but what the heck where those rockets doing? |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 688707 United States 09/19/2009 09:44 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Someone posted this on twitter .. thought this might explain the light sightings ... Quoting: Anonymous Coward 765377[link to www.nasa.gov] Night Time Artificial Cloud Study Using NASA Sounding Rocket 09/10/09 A rocket experiment that may shed light on the highest clouds in the Earth’s atmosphere was conducted from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on September 19, 2009. The experiment was launched on a NASA Black Brant XII Sounding Rocket. Black Brant Sounding Rocket The Charged Aerosol Release Experiment (CARE) was conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory and the Department of Defense Space Test Program using a NASA four-stage Black Brant XII suborbital sounding rocket. Using ground based instruments and the STP/NRL STPSat-1 spacecraft, scientists will study an artificial noctilucent cloud formed by the exhaust particles of the rocket’s fourth stage at about 173 miles altitude. Ground based cameras and radars were based at various observation stations along the Atlantic coast and in Bermuda. Because of the optical observations, the launch required clear skies not only at Wallops but also at the multiple observation stations. The Spatial Heterodyne IMager for MEsospheric Radicals instrument on the STPSat-1 spacecraft will track the CARE dust cloud for days or even months. The SHIMMER instrument has previously viewed natural noctilucent clouds for the past two years. The CARE is the first space viewing of an artificial noctilucent cloud. Data collected during the experiment will provide insight into the formation, evolution, and properties of noctilucent clouds, which are typically observed naturally at high latitudes. In addition to the understanding of noctilucent clouds, scientists will use the experiment to validate and develop simulation models that predict the distribution of dust particles from rocket motors in the upper atmosphere. Natural noctilucent clouds, also known as polar mesospheric clouds, are found in the upper atmosphere as spectacular displays that are most easily seen just after sunset. The clouds are the highest clouds in Earth’s atmosphere, located in the mesosphere around 50 miles altitude. They are normally too faint to be seen with the naked eye and are visible only when illuminated by sunlight from below the horizon while the Earth’s surface is in darkness. A team from government agencies and universities, led by the Naval Research Laboratory, is conducting the experiment. In addition to the Naval Research Laboratory, participants include the DoD STP, NASA, University of Michigan, Air Force Research Laboratory, Clemson University, Stanford University, University of Colorado, Penn State University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Haystack Observatory. Well, if NASA has an explanation for the light then it's almost a certainty that it was a UFO. From Space.com forums... Launch sucessful, look for artificial noctilucent clouds after midnight! [link to www.space.com] |
PBJR User ID: 775072 United States 09/19/2009 09:44 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 775079 United States 09/19/2009 09:52 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
ndd84999 User ID: 775069 United States 09/19/2009 09:54 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward (OP) User ID: 755536 United States 09/19/2009 09:59 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Charlie Bury User ID: 775085 United States 09/19/2009 10:03 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Charlie Bury User ID: 775085 United States 09/19/2009 10:05 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
BW User ID: 775089 United States 09/19/2009 10:10 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Just did a search and found this thread. My family and I are in Beach Haven NJ staying in a great house right on the beach with a platform tower on the deck overlooking the ocean. Before putting the kids to bed, we decided to go outside with binocs and star watch as it was a very clear night. We were about to call it quits when I glanced overhead and saw a bright light with a cone of light extending below it. For scale, about the size of your open hand with the bright light about fingernail size. Thought it might be a flair but they drop and this one just went off, but strangely as others noted, the cone of light lingered. I have a pair of Zeiss binocs but did not make out any additional details that could not be seen by the naked eye. The glow definitely lingered well after the bright light went out. Kids were very scared so after it was gone we went in. One of the strangest sites I have ever seen in the night sky. Think I’ll go back out! |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 775098 United States 09/19/2009 10:17 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | We saw it from Goochland, Co. Va. It was very much what you described. Glad to hear it was a rocket. It did scare the children in the crowd when several adults couldn't control their emotions and went off on crazy tangents about aliens and creatures from outer space. |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 775099 United States 09/19/2009 10:18 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
murnut User ID: 771600 United States 09/19/2009 10:24 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I saw it too...at first I thought it was a jet, but it was very high up...I figured it was a satellite. I did not see the bright flash the other saw...more of an orange glowing that was much the size of a star...except it was moving Edit...I'm in Bucks Co. PA Last Edited by murnut on 09/19/2009 10:24 PM |
BW User ID: 775089 United States 09/19/2009 10:24 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Lastone User ID: 774840 Portugal 09/19/2009 10:27 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | The case isn't closed. I´m in Portugal and I didn´t want to start a new thread, I didn't want to have people using not so nice words. But I saw something amazing . I'm in Portugal, Lisbon. I live between Lisbon and Sintra and I saw a light traveling very fast in the night sky as I was going to rent a DVD tonight. At firts I thought to myself "its a Shooting Star". But it wasn't. The "star" Stop just as it was passing hover, for about 30 sec. It started shining very bright and then it just shoot again very fast in the same direction it was going lisbon-Sintra. It isn't very easy for me to write in English, doing my best, and that is the reason I didn't post anything. For the past 2 Months I've been watching the sky every night and many light moving in the sky, changing directions very fast as they go by. 2 weeks ago I did call to Sintra militar air force base at 13.00 pm Portugal time, because I saw more then 30 lights in Sintra during my lunch break, I went back to work but did call, I managed to talk to the control tower responsable, and ask him if they had any radar signals of the objects In his words " the best answer I can give you is... can't confirm it can't deny it. I know what I saw ... |
ToniC User ID: 775105 United States 09/19/2009 10:29 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
[email protected]m User ID: 775111 United States 09/19/2009 10:31 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | im not sure if the exact time, but i saw the flashlight looking light that was "hanging" you could say from the sky. i live in reading PA and i was so shocked i thought i was the only one to ever see this until now.. email me about more info if you have it [email protected] |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 775025 United States 09/19/2009 10:32 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
murnut User ID: 771600 United States 09/19/2009 10:37 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
EFG User ID: 775099 United States 09/19/2009 10:39 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Ok.. I've got to ask if you are anywhere near the Rockville MD area. I was out this evening with a friend on her deck. We saw somehting very similar to what you described. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 775099Me again... (above comment is mine) I initially thought I was seeing the light of a helicopter but it was much too high, still, and quite. Then I ran into the house to grab my camera when it kind of began to dissipate. The light never really moved other than (from my view) it was like looking at a spotlight that kind of turned away but could still see the light in an oval shape...like it was pointing in a more downward direction. Like you we saw a conical shape below the light that turned kind of puff like after the light dissapeared- then even the puff disapeared in an odd upward lifting motion. After the light was out my friend and I were looking for some kind of explanation like the silhouette of a helicopter or a plane.. anything... but there was nothing that we could see- even on such a clear night. --EFG |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 303465 United States 09/19/2009 10:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 523895 United States 09/19/2009 10:40 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | Ok .. I don't even know how to describe what I just saw. I went out to move my car and I glanced up at the sky and there was a very strange light formation. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 755536Now, there is not a cloud in the sky ... and brilliant stars all around .. and I saw this light formation that looked like the sun brilliantly shining through clouds during sunset and the light radiating out at various angles .. like a trapezoid .. a very controlled shape of light beams .. but there were no aircraft in the sky as far as I could tell. Then, I noticed the light morphing and almost disappearing like smoke dissipating into thin air .. just so weird to see light morph like that .. and then the angles got very irregular and the light turned into more of a 'puff' of light. I ran to get my husband quickly because I saw it changing .. when we looked up at the sky, he saw what was left over .. a very thin/transparent irregularly shaped light formation that just got more and more transparent and finally disappeared. He thought it was very strange as well. I have zero knowledge of UFOs .. does anyone know what this could have possibly been .. or does it sound like anything you have seen or heard of? Thanks. I just replied on another thread. Saw the same exact thing in Mt. Laurel, NJ |
Anonymous123456 User ID: 775119 United States 09/19/2009 10:44 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 303465 United States 09/19/2009 10:45 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 764979 United States 09/19/2009 10:45 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | I live in Wisconsin. A couple of weeks ago I saw the Space Station and Space Shuttle pass overhead. Not sure which one was leading, but there was a beam coming off the first one that looked similar to a flashlight cone shape. At first I dismissed the cone shape illumination, but after watching them pass overhead, there was definitely a light coming off either the space station or the shuttle. It would have to be the space station because the shuttle is back now right? |
Anonymous Coward User ID: 303465 United States 09/19/2009 10:50 PM Report Abusive Post Report Copyright Violation | |