Rocket-related clouds - 29.3.2023 at 23.00 - 29.3.2023 at 23.10 Lappeenranta Observation number 113913

Visibility IV / V

Terhi Törmälä

Skywatcher noticed that a launch vehicle is being launched from the Plesetsky Cosmodrome. The weather looked relatively good, so I went for a ride with the camera to the Luukkaansalmi bridge, because I thought that's where it can be seen best. There was still some cloudiness in the eastern sky, but I waited and the wait was rewarded. The time information of the pictures is an hour and 3 minutes late, of course I hadn't remembered to move the camera to summer time.. The rocket appeared at 23:03 and for the last picture it was 23:06.

#raketti: Soyuz 2.1y
#satelliitti: Kosmos 2568

This description has been automatically translated from Finnish. Click here to see the original text.

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Additional information

Havainto
- Rocket-related clouds
Rocket launch
- Rocket contrails
  
  The rocket contrails are colorful clouds that appear when the sun is below the horizon. The contrails can float so high in the atmosphere that the sun shines on them even if it is already completely dark on the ground. They stay visible noticeable quite long after the launch.
  
  The colors are created by the scattering of sunlight in the small ice crystals. In Finland, rocket phenomena from two different locations have mainly been observed. One of them is the missile launches from the submarines from the White Sea and the Arctic Ocean. They use solid fuel that creates colorful clouds.
  
  Another source of rocket phenomena is the Plesetsk Cosmodrome Area in Russia. There are a few launches from there every year. These fires usually use liquid fuels, making the clouds less spectacular.
  
  The visibility of the rocket launch is affected by the time at which the launch is made and where the winds blow. The best of all is around 3-5 o'clock Finnish time, when the cloud has time to spread out a bit and shine in the morning sun coming from the east when it is still dark or dark in Finland.
  
  During the first decade of the 2000s, rocket phenomena have been observed about twice per year in Finland. Since then, however, it has been quieter.
  
  Rocket contrails from Oulunsalo, Photo by Jarmo Moilanen.
- Rocket phase visible in the sky

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Rocket-related clouds - 29.3.2023 at 23.00 - 29.3.2023 at 23.10 Lappeenranta Observation number 113913