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An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
Page 1 of 1
An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
Stare at the sky long enough, and you'll eventually see something a little different.
I was mowing the mostly dead grass in my front yard late in the day, took a break to flop in my lawn chair and, of course, looked up. Way up, past the orange-bellied Southwest 737's heading into St. Louis, was a tiny dot that looked to be barely moving.
Binoculars time! Couldn't see a lot of detail, but enough to tell it was a balloon. Out comes the old, battered Mead reflector, which brought in a lot more detail.
I STILL haven't bought a camera adapter for the telescope (been threatening to for ten years), but tried to get a few photos by just pointing the camera down it's eyepiece, while trying not to jar the thing. Got a few fairly decent shots, then called my brother Keith who lives 40 miles away in Olmsted.
He was able to spot it easily, saying that it looked like an early star. We watched it track to the east and finally lost it as the sun went down.
Haven't seen one since WAY back in 1972 or '73, when we watched one hover over Southern Illinois all day and into the early evening, glowing as the sun still hit it, even after sunset.
While it's hard to see in the photos, there looked to be an instrument package hanging below it. If there was a camera on that sucker, bet it was getting some great photos!
I was mowing the mostly dead grass in my front yard late in the day, took a break to flop in my lawn chair and, of course, looked up. Way up, past the orange-bellied Southwest 737's heading into St. Louis, was a tiny dot that looked to be barely moving.
Binoculars time! Couldn't see a lot of detail, but enough to tell it was a balloon. Out comes the old, battered Mead reflector, which brought in a lot more detail.
I STILL haven't bought a camera adapter for the telescope (been threatening to for ten years), but tried to get a few photos by just pointing the camera down it's eyepiece, while trying not to jar the thing. Got a few fairly decent shots, then called my brother Keith who lives 40 miles away in Olmsted.
He was able to spot it easily, saying that it looked like an early star. We watched it track to the east and finally lost it as the sun went down.
Haven't seen one since WAY back in 1972 or '73, when we watched one hover over Southern Illinois all day and into the early evening, glowing as the sun still hit it, even after sunset.
While it's hard to see in the photos, there looked to be an instrument package hanging below it. If there was a camera on that sucker, bet it was getting some great photos!
Kim- Top Poster
-
Posts : 8509
Join date : 2011-09-06
Location : South East Missouri
Re: An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
Weird, what the heck is that? Weather balloon maybe, but nothing attached. We are not alone?
Cribbs74- Moderator
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Posts : 11892
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 50
Location : Tuttle, OK
Re: An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
Wow, it looks fully inflated so it must be about its max altitude. Kinda pretty. And unworldly looking. Probably made of Latex.
_________________
Don't Panic!
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
RknRusty- Rest In Peace
- Posts : 10869
Join date : 2011-08-10
Age : 68
Location : South Carolina, USA
Re: An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
Nice pictures! Would have caused a national media frenzy back in the late 60's. Now, it probably is just one of those pesky NSA spy drones taking pictures of us!!
Marleysky- Top Poster
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Posts : 3618
Join date : 2014-09-28
Age : 71
Location : Grand Rapids, MI
Re: An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
A basic weather balloon.
Remember the package is very small compared to the balloon near the top of its journey. The fuzzy thing hanging down should be the insulated electronics.
Phil
Remember the package is very small compared to the balloon near the top of its journey. The fuzzy thing hanging down should be the insulated electronics.
Phil
pkrankow- Top Poster
- Posts : 3025
Join date : 2012-10-02
Location : Ohio
Re: An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
pkrankow wrote:A basic weather balloon.
Remember the package is very small compared to the balloon near the top of its journey. The fuzzy thing hanging down should be the insulated electronics.
Phil
Or maybe...the occasional can of beer...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzF6scSZo40
Kim- Top Poster
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Posts : 8509
Join date : 2011-09-06
Location : South East Missouri
Re: An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
Wow how COOL can that bee , it don't look like one of these but they are old I believe , https://www.google.com/search?q=weather+balloon&biw=1280&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjmk_7AitXNAhWCYyYKHUvzApUQsAQIKA
getback- Top Poster
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Posts : 10028
Join date : 2013-01-18
Age : 66
Location : julian , NC
Re: An Aerial Jelly Fish in the Sky over the Skunk Works
I got sucked into Youtube after watching the Space Coors expedition. I watched the best tour of the ISS I've ever seen, and started another one I'll finish later. Thanks Kim.
_________________
Don't Panic!
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
...and never Ever think about how good you are at something...
while you're doing it!
My Hot Rock & Blues Playlist
RknRusty- Rest In Peace
- Posts : 10869
Join date : 2011-08-10
Age : 68
Location : South Carolina, USA
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