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The Cause of the Cloud: Difference between revisions
→Explanations for the Cloud
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Unlike the 1960s, anyone can now see rocket launches from the Vandenburg Air Force Base in California on Youtube.<ref> http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=SGBuQL-FvGI </ref> Depending on conditions, these launches can be seen from Tucson and beyond, and can leave clouds stretching into the mesosphere that remain illuminated long after sunset. <ref> http://spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/cosmic/launch.html and http://www.atoptics.co.uk/highsky/rktr1j.htm </ref> | Unlike the 1960s, anyone can now see rocket launches from the Vandenburg Air Force Base in California on Youtube.<ref> http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=SGBuQL-FvGI </ref> Depending on conditions, these launches can be seen from Tucson and beyond, and can leave clouds stretching into the mesosphere that remain illuminated long after sunset. <ref> http://spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/cosmic/launch.html and http://www.atoptics.co.uk/highsky/rktr1j.htm </ref> | ||
The fact that rocket launches were seen as the cause of similar clouds appearing shortly after the Cloud appeared was also confirmed by scientists. For example: | |||
:'''Abstract''' - A bright noctilucent cloud was observed and photographed north-west of Tucson on 15 June 1963. Results of computations indicate that the cloud was at a height of 71 kilometers. The cloud appears to have resulted from the launching of a Scout space vehicle. <ref> [http://www.sciencemag.org/content/141/3586/1176.abstract Science Magazine, September 1963: Vol. 141, no. 3586, pp. 1176-1178, DOI: 10.1126/science.141.3586.1176, ''Low-Latitude Noctilucent Cloud of 15 June 1963'', Aden B. Meinel1, Barbara Middlehurst, Ewen Whitaker]</ref> | |||
:'''Abstract''' - Measurement of the filamentary noctilucent cloud of 2 November 1963 yields a height of 56 km. Study of the motion and orientation of the cloud confirms the hypothesis that these unusual clouds appearing in the southwestern states are produced by the launching of rocket vehicles from the Pacific Missile Range.<ref>[http://www.sciencemag.org/content/143/3601/38.abstract Science Magazine, January 1964: Vol. 143, no. 3601, pp. 38-39, DOI:0.1126/science.143.3601.38, Low-Latitude Noctilucent Cloud of 2 November 1963, Aden B. Meinel, Carolyn P. Meinel]</ref> | |||
Questions have also been raised as to why was the cloud not seen prior to appearing over Flagstaff. However, as the cloud was similar to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noctilucent_cloud noctilucent cloud], it would not be visible until the sky began to darken at sunset. Dr. MacDonald made no mention of the noctilucent cloud phenomena in his report. | Questions have also been raised as to why was the cloud not seen prior to appearing over Flagstaff. However, as the cloud was similar to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noctilucent_cloud noctilucent cloud], it would not be visible until the sky began to darken at sunset. Dr. MacDonald made no mention of the noctilucent cloud phenomena in his report. | ||