-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Chuck Hards Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 5:55 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] OT: Weather balloons
Maybe one of you pilots can shed some light on this. I swear I saw a weather balloon being released at SL Int'l airport this morning. It appeared to be a balloon with an orangish beacon light on the bottom, that illuminated the balloon itself. Constant light, no flashing. I stared at it for a while thinking it might be a helicopter taking-off, but the lights were wrong and it didn't fly any kind of pattern, just more-or-less straight up and following the wind direction.
About 5:05 AM, not far from the Million-Air terminal that Patrick flies from.
Do those balloons still get used? Seems kind of hazardous releasing it from the airport, unless radar showed no incoming traffic for a long ways off.
Hi Chuck, Here are data on this morning's launch: http://www.calsky.com/?Balloons=&interval=0.125&station=72572&tdt=2456538.96... I don't think they carry lights but maybe what you saw was the Sun reflecting off the orange equipment hanging below the balloon. I didn't realize the balloons are up to 15m across when they burst. That's the size of a small house. No wonder they can be seen from far away. BTW, many Moons ago while watching the Sun with the coelostat at Hansen Planetarium a weather balloon passed right in front of the solar disc. Lots of details could be seen. Even the instrument package was visible. Neat stuff! patrick