Launching Rocket Creates Magnificent Sight

news image
Special Stories
9 Aug 2019 6:01 AM
Folks who opted not to hit snooze and sleep in were greeted to quite the sight in the Florida sky Thursday morning. An Atlas V rocket launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 6:13 a.m. Thursday. While lifting up in the sky the rocket created a distinct, bright white glow and trail. The timing of the rocket's liftoff and the sunrise combined to create these pictures. The Atlas V rocket was carrying a military communications satellite called the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite. It was the fifth in a series of six that began launching in 2010 for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, according to WeatherNation affiliate WPEC-TV. This same kind of view is possible when rockets are launched around sunset too. When the sun is below the horizon but lights up the upper part of our atmosphere, it can create these amazing sights. If you happened to catch it, please share it with us on our Twitter or Facebook pages! For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier
All Weather News
More
Major Cooldown in Store for the Upper-Midwest

Major Cooldown in Store for the Upper-Midwest

While we finish our Thanksgiving food and hea

29 Nov 2025 7:30 PM
Major Winter Storm Will Disrupt Travel This Weekend

Major Winter Storm Will Disrupt Travel This Weekend

An ongoing powerful winter storm will sw

29 Nov 2025 7:20 PM
Denver Finally Measures Snow, More Coming to the Rockies

Denver Finally Measures Snow, More Coming to the Rockies

The "Mile High" city finally recorded it's fi

29 Nov 2025 3:29 PM
Atlantic Hurricane Season Closes Near Normal

Atlantic Hurricane Season Closes Near Normal

COURTESY: NOAAThe 2025 Atlantic hurrican

29 Nov 2025 1:00 PM
A Record Breaking Thanksgiving Travel Week Expected

A Record Breaking Thanksgiving Travel Week Expected

It is that time of year again—when millions o

29 Nov 2025 11:00 AM
Lake Effect Snow for the Northeast

Lake Effect Snow for the Northeast

An upper-level trough moving through the Grea

28 Nov 2025 2:40 PM
NWS Houston Confirms Two Tornadoes from Monday's Storms

NWS Houston Confirms Two Tornadoes from Monday's Storms

Areas in southeast Houston quickly took cover

28 Nov 2025 10:35 AM