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Re: [OM] last week sky spectacle

Subject: Re: [OM] last week sky spectacle
From: "W. J. Liles" <wliles@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 18:14:18 -0500
Gregg Iverson wrote:
> 
> This one started out looking just like one I saw in Loma Linda in 1964.
> Because that one had also appeared to not follow a straight path, I
> thought it was an aborted flight.  Thanks for the correction after all
> these years.
> 
> Gregg
> 
> Acer Victoria wrote:
> >
> > If any of you saw or remember, there was a dummy ICBM launched from
> > Marshall Islands towards the US to test the defense system. An anti-ICBM
> > took off from Vandenburg air force base off Point Loma (I think?) in
> > California to intercept it. This was a bit before sunset last Sunday
> > evening (Oct. 3). It left a fuel trail of some sort that, once it got
> > caught in the wind, started florescing a bit past susnset, looking like an
> > aurora borealis, but moving much slowing and lasting some 30 minutes.
> > Vibrant pastel colors, etc. Fabulous sight.
> 

The rocket's exhaust vapor trail can persist for some time and is often
distorted by winds aloft into bizarre shapes.  The Germans at Pennemunde
that developed the V-2 were the first to witness this phenomenon and
called it "Frozen lightning".

Jerry Liles

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