Tuesday, September 04, 2007

PICTURES: Japan's Space Fireworks

Japanese researchers sent a rocket into the ionosphere to basically create "three, huge red glowing orbs in the sky for a minute and a half." First picture in gallery.

These luminous orbs will be the result of three clouds of lithium vapor released into the ionosphere by a rocket launched in an experiment to study the atmosphere. The red glow will be caused by sunlight striking the lithium vapor clouds as they disperse. ?In the first few seconds after each lithium release, the light should become as large and bright as the moon,? says team member Masayuki Yamamoto, a professor at Kochi University of Technology.
[via Gizmodo - Pinktentacle]

Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo



Read More...

[Source: Tech Blog]