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The Cause of the Cloud: Difference between revisions

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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>     
This was confirmed in other scientific journals shortly after the Cloud appeared.  For example:
:'''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>Science 3 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.