skies

Europe strives to enter clear skies

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One of the challenges of seeing a launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is actually seeing the launch. A layer of low cloud often rolls in from the Pacific Ocean, causing rockets to disappear a few seconds after takeoff. Such was the case on May 28, when a Falcon 9 launched EarthCARE, an … Read more

Comet fragment explodes in dark skies over Spain and Portugal

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On Saturday, revelers across Spain and Portugal ventured out into the temperate spring evening, hoping for an evening to remember. No one expected a visitor from space to explode over their heads. At 11:46 p.m., a fireball shot through the sky in Portugal, leaving a smoldering trail of glowing graffiti. Images shared on social media … Read more