Greetings and questions

Pamela Bachman (bachman@nsu.acast.nova.edu)
Sun, 09 Nov 1997 10:20:38 -0800

Hello to all!
I've tracked down this list in an effort to find some answers. Please be
easy on me, I'm a biologist and not well versed in astronomical stuff. I
hope that someone can help me.  On the evening of Nov. 7, 1997, I was on
a camping trip about 1 hour south of Cape Canaveral.  We were lucky
enough to observe a launch (which NASA web site lists as a Titan IV) and
watched in amazement as it traveled the night sky. I'd never seen a
launch before....I think I'm hooked. As the launch became nothing more
than a point of light high in the sky, I observed what looked like a
firework going off.  It emanated out from the rocket in a perfect circle
and faded quickly.  After that phenomena, the point that marked the
rocket was dimmer.  So here's my question....what was this and how does
it happen?  Is this what happens when something breaks out of the
atmosphere?  Or have I spent too much time breathing from a SCUBA tank
and am now seeing things?

Thanks in advance for your help.
Cheers
Pam
-- 
Pamela Bachman
Nova Southeastern University
Oceanographic Center
8000 N. Ocean Drive
Dania, FL 33004
Voice: (954) 920-1909
E-Mail: bachman@ocean.nova.edu