Stargazers on the U.S. East Coast may be in for a treat tonight as NASA is launching a rocket that will create a light show in the sky on the evening on January 29.
As part of an experiment, NASA expects the rocket to release a chemical tracer that will leave a bright show in the sky. The tracer will create two red colored lithium vapor trails in the sky which should be visible on coastal areas of the mid-Atlantic region and possibly other areas, Science World Report said.
The rocket is scheduled to launch sometime between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. EST. When the rocket is high in the sky and over the Atlantic ocean, the thermite that is it carrying will be ignited and the lithium will be vaporized, which will form the red trails behind. The trails will ignite at 72 miles and 78 miles high, so there are hopes that they will be illuminated by sunlight as the sun is setting.
Through this experiment, NASA hopes to gain information from the shape of the trails that are formed. Scientists may gain valuable information about the wind speed and direction in the upper atmosphere which have turbulent conditions. Scientists will also test the vapor itself to try to determine which configuration of lithium is best for testing in space.
To see the show it is best to go to an area with a clear view of the horizon. The rocket is being launched from the Wallops Island near Virginia, so it is best to look towards that direction. If the weather is bad, the launch will take place another night.
Two similar launches that will release lithium trails will take place in April and June.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
