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Date: 23 Nov 2006 09:11:45
From: Dave Mitsky
Subject: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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While observing from a dark site in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday
night, my observing buddy and I noticed what we first took to be an
auroral glow in the southeast at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30
UT). It was a green or blue-green amorphous glow with a brighter
central "ray" that slowly expanded and eventually dissipated about 15
minutes later.
The event was also witnessed by two other very reliable observers from
two other locations in the state.
Does anyone know if there was a vapor release experiment or a rocket
fuel dump that night? I haven't been successful in discovering any
information on the event to this point.
Dave Mitsky
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Date: 24 Nov 2006 00:30:18
From: Dennis Woos
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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"Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu > wrote in message
news:1164301905.597406.134940@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> While observing from a dark site in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday
> night, my observing buddy and I noticed what we first took to be an
> auroral glow in the southeast at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30
> UT). It was a green or blue-green amorphous glow with a brighter
> central "ray" that slowly expanded and eventually dissipated about 15
> minutes later.
>
> The event was also witnessed by two other very reliable observers from
> two other locations in the state.
>
> Does anyone know if there was a vapor release experiment or a rocket
> fuel dump that night? I haven't been successful in discovering any
> information on the event to this point.
>
> Dave Mitsky
>
My son and I both saw what I am sure was the same phenomena here in central
Vermont, and around the same time. I assumed it was some kind of
searchlight, even though it seemed much too far-reaching for that to be
plausible. I can't say how long it lasted - we were observing stuff in the
north-east and sometime later I noticed that it was gone. I sure would like
to know what it was - could it have been auroral?
Dennis
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Date: 25 Nov 2006 01:51:40
From: Ron Lee
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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"Dennis Woos" <dpwoos@gmavt.net > wrote:
>"Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu> wrote in message
>news:1164301905.597406.134940@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>> While observing from a dark site in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday
>> night, my observing buddy and I noticed what we first took to be an
>> auroral glow in the southeast at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30
>> UT). It was a green or blue-green amorphous glow with a brighter
>> central "ray" that slowly expanded and eventually dissipated about 15
>> minutes later.
It may have been the orbit adjust on the recent GPS launch.
Ron Lee
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Date: 25 Nov 2006 14:41:01
From: kapella1@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 01:51:40 GMT, nospamronlee@pcisys.net (Ron Lee)
wrote:
>
>It may have been the orbit adjust on the recent GPS launch.
>
>Ron Lee
Was also seen by members of the Columbus Astronomical Society,
observing from SE Ohio. They assumed it was probably a propellant
dump from a launch.
Kapella
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Date: 23 Nov 2006 16:17:52
From: Jim Shaffer
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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On 23 Nov 2006 09:11:45 -0800, "Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu > wrote:
>While observing from a dark site in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday
>night, my observing buddy and I noticed what we first took to be an
>auroral glow in the southeast at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30
>UT). It was a green or blue-green amorphous glow with a brighter
>central "ray" that slowly expanded and eventually dissipated about 15
>minutes later.
I saw that too! I thought I was seeing smoke from a chimney down the
street, as I had observed during daytime that smoke was lying close to
the ground that day, but I had no luck coming up with an explanation
for what was illuminating it. It looked like a searchlight shining
into a smoke cloud. Like you, I was struck by the resemblance to an
aurora. I ran into some trouble later in the night and so forgot
about it until you mentioned it. Evidently it wasn't a ground-level
phenomenon at all. I'm in Montgomery, Lycoming County, south of
Williamsport.
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Date: 24 Nov 2006 17:03:00
From: Alan French
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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"Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu > wrote in message
news:1164301905.597406.134940@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> While observing from a dark site in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday
> night, my observing buddy and I noticed what we first took to be an
> auroral glow in the southeast at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30
> UT). It was a green or blue-green amorphous glow with a brighter
> central "ray" that slowly expanded and eventually dissipated about 15
> minutes later.
>
> The event was also witnessed by two other very reliable observers from
> two other locations in the state.
>
> Does anyone know if there was a vapor release experiment or a rocket
> fuel dump that night? I haven't been successful in discovering any
> information on the event to this point.
Dave,
My wife saw this too. Unfortunately, while she was home observing I was in
the car heading for a meeting, so I missed it. She mentioned it when I got
home, and said it looked like bright aurora a bit east of due south. She
described it as a wide swath with a shaft going up the middle, and it
dissipated and faded away.
We are in upstate NY about 7 miles northwest of Schenectady.
Clear skies, Alan
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Date: 24 Nov 2006 14:02:15
From: David G. Nagel
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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Alan French wrote:
> "Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu> wrote in message
> news:1164301905.597406.134940@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
>>While observing from a dark site in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday
>>night, my observing buddy and I noticed what we first took to be an
>>auroral glow in the southeast at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30
>>UT). It was a green or blue-green amorphous glow with a brighter
>>central "ray" that slowly expanded and eventually dissipated about 15
>>minutes later.
>>
>>The event was also witnessed by two other very reliable observers from
>>two other locations in the state.
>>
>>Does anyone know if there was a vapor release experiment or a rocket
>>fuel dump that night? I haven't been successful in discovering any
>>information on the event to this point.
>
>
> Dave,
>
> My wife saw this too. Unfortunately, while she was home observing I was in
> the car heading for a meeting, so I missed it. She mentioned it when I got
> home, and said it looked like bright aurora a bit east of due south. She
> described it as a wide swath with a shaft going up the middle, and it
> dissipated and faded away.
>
> We are in upstate NY about 7 miles northwest of Schenectady.
>
> Clear skies, Alan
>
What time did this occur? If the sun angle was just right at sunset you
might have seen an artifact of the GREEN Flash that happens just as the
various angles of refraction favor the GREEN light. I have not been
fortunate enough to have observed this but have read about it many
times. If the various factors required came together just right you
might have seen the cloud illuminated by the GREEN Flash.
Another Dave
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Date: 25 Nov 2006 21:54:46
From: Alan French
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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"David G. Nagel" <nagel@core.com > wrote in message
news:12meju9l09hgk5a@corp.supernews.com...
> Alan French wrote:
> > "Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu> wrote in message
> > news:1164301905.597406.134940@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> >
> >>While observing from a dark site in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday
> >>night, my observing buddy and I noticed what we first took to be an
> >>auroral glow in the southeast at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30
> >>UT). It was a green or blue-green amorphous glow with a brighter
> >>central "ray" that slowly expanded and eventually dissipated about 15
> >>minutes later.
> >>
> >>The event was also witnessed by two other very reliable observers from
> >>two other locations in the state.
> >>
> >>Does anyone know if there was a vapor release experiment or a rocket
> >>fuel dump that night? I haven't been successful in discovering any
> >>information on the event to this point.
> >
> >
> > Dave,
> >
> > My wife saw this too. Unfortunately, while she was home observing I was
in
> > the car heading for a meeting, so I missed it. She mentioned it when I
got
> > home, and said it looked like bright aurora a bit east of due south.
She
> > described it as a wide swath with a shaft going up the middle, and it
> > dissipated and faded away.
> >
> > We are in upstate NY about 7 miles northwest of Schenectady.
> >
> > Clear skies, Alan
> >
> What time did this occur? If the sun angle was just right at sunset you
> might have seen an artifact of the GREEN Flash that happens just as the
> various angles of refraction favor the GREEN light. I have not been
> fortunate enough to have observed this but have read about it many
> times. If the various factors required came together just right you
> might have seen the cloud illuminated by the GREEN Flash.
>
> Another Dave
Dave,
It was around 6:30 PM. It lasted for a few minutes, so I doubt it had
anything to do with the green flash, which is quite momentary.
Clear skies, Alan
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Date: 27 Nov 2006 09:36:41
From: Dave Mitsky
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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David G. Nagel wrote:
> Alan French wrote:
> > "Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu> wrote in message
> > news:1164301905.597406.134940@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> >
> >>While observing from a dark site in central Pennsylvania on Tuesday
> >>night, my observing buddy and I noticed what we first took to be an
> >>auroral glow in the southeast at approximately 6:30 p.m. EST (23:30
> >>UT). It was a green or blue-green amorphous glow with a brighter
> >>central "ray" that slowly expanded and eventually dissipated about 15
> >>minutes later.
> >>
> >>The event was also witnessed by two other very reliable observers from
> >>two other locations in the state.
> >>
> >>Does anyone know if there was a vapor release experiment or a rocket
> >>fuel dump that night? I haven't been successful in discovering any
> >>information on the event to this point.
> >
> >
> > Dave,
> >
> > My wife saw this too. Unfortunately, while she was home observing I was in
> > the car heading for a meeting, so I missed it. She mentioned it when I got
> > home, and said it looked like bright aurora a bit east of due south. She
> > described it as a wide swath with a shaft going up the middle, and it
> > dissipated and faded away.
> >
> > We are in upstate NY about 7 miles northwest of Schenectady.
> >
> > Clear skies, Alan
> >
> What time did this occur? If the sun angle was just right at sunset you
> might have seen an artifact of the GREEN Flash that happens just as the
> various angles of refraction favor the GREEN light. I have not been
> fortunate enough to have observed this but have read about it many
> times. If the various factors required came together just right you
> might have seen the cloud illuminated by the GREEN Flash.
>
> Another Dave
Apparently, it was a barium cloud release according to a post on the
AAVSO list, although I've also seen a report that it was a fuel dump
from a classified launch.
Dave Mitsky
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Date: 27 Nov 2006 20:15:11
From: Alan French
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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"Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu > wrote in message
news:1164649001.419433.123750@14g2000cws.googlegroups.com...
> Apparently, it was a barium cloud release according to a post on the
> AAVSO list, although I've also seen a report that it was a fuel dump
> from a classified launch.
>
Dave Mitsky,
My wife thought it was pretty large, extending 30 degrees up from the
horizon, and colorful to be a fuel dump. We saw a fuel dump several years
ago and it was a rather small, and not bright and colorful. I supposed they
vary, however.
Clear skies, Alan
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Date: 28 Nov 2006 13:04:28
From: Dave Mitsky
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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Alan French wrote:
> "Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu> wrote in message
> news:1164649001.419433.123750@14g2000cws.googlegroups.com...
> > Apparently, it was a barium cloud release according to a post on the
> > AAVSO list, although I've also seen a report that it was a fuel dump
> > from a classified launch.
> >
> Dave Mitsky,
>
> My wife thought it was pretty large, extending 30 degrees up from the
> horizon, and colorful to be a fuel dump. We saw a fuel dump several years
> ago and it was a rather small, and not bright and colorful. I supposed they
> vary, however.
>
> Clear skies, Alan
Alan,
Yes, the cloud was large but some of the fuel dumps that I've witnessed
have been fairly large too. I tend to believe that it was a barium
release, however.
Dave
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Date: 28 Nov 2006 13:04:26
From: Dave Mitsky
Subject: Re: An Unusual "Cloud" on Tuesday Evening, November 21
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Alan French wrote:
> "Dave Mitsky" <djm28@psu.edu> wrote in message
> news:1164649001.419433.123750@14g2000cws.googlegroups.com...
> > Apparently, it was a barium cloud release according to a post on the
> > AAVSO list, although I've also seen a report that it was a fuel dump
> > from a classified launch.
> >
> Dave Mitsky,
>
> My wife thought it was pretty large, extending 30 degrees up from the
> horizon, and colorful to be a fuel dump. We saw a fuel dump several years
> ago and it was a rather small, and not bright and colorful. I supposed they
> vary, however.
>
> Clear skies, Alan
Alan,
Yes, the cloud was large but some of the fuel dumps that I've witnessed
have been fairly large too. I tend to believe that it was a barium
release, however.
Dave
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