STS-131

Space Shuttle Discovery launched at 6:21am on April 5, 2010. It was definitely one of the coolest launches I've ever seen in a while. The shuttle formed a noctilucent cloud in it's contrail, then about 3.5 minutes in, it did this cool thing where what could be described as a wake or an aura formed around the shuttle as it started to dip below the horizon. At about 5 minutes, the sound waves finally hit and a faint rumbling could be heard...

Only three more launches of this awesomeness!

SDO, Sonic Booms, & Sun Dogs...

On February 11, 2010, the Solar Dynamics Observatory launched on an Atlas V Rocket. I attepted to watch the launch from my front yard, but there were too many clouds between where I was and the coast to get a good view. I was able to see the rocket for about five seconds through a hole in the clouds, but that was about it.

Being closer to the launch apparently provided an awesome show. Turn the video to 720p and turn on full screen. Wait until about two minutes in when the rocket is about to pass through the sun dog, and then the rocket goes supersonic while passing through the ice particles in the air. I've never seen anything quite like this!

Lenticular Clouds

Lenticular Clouds are a rare sight in Florida. They seem to only occur in cold weather, and Florida doesn't get cold that often. These strange looking clouds take the form of very smooth concave shapes. The best lenticular clouds are ones that are perfectly round and resembles an upside down bowl. I've only come across one of these perfect "UFO Clouds" on one occasion, but I've seen lenticular clouds like the ones on this page more frequently. These clouds don't have as much of a spherical shape and are more like several overlapping upside down bowls.

These lenticulars were seen over the cities of Casselberry and Longwood in January 2009.