WTF was this??? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

spence · 09-20-2009, 12:00 AM

So Fishbones and I are on RIJIMMY's boat tonight, in the West Passage, around 8:30pm looking for some bass. RIJIMMY was there as well.

I look to the south, and remark, what the eff is that???

What would look to be several thousand feet in the air and off the South County shore is a gigantic inverted plume that's glowing bright white. It's freaking huge (20 degrees across if you're into astronomy, if you're not a geek hold both fists together at arms length), gathers to a point at the top and is wide at the base.

After a minute, the light is gone and the plume slowly dissipates, lit only by the reflected light from land. We couldn't see any aircraft lights moving away from the focus of the plume.

The ONLY thing I can think of would be a jet aircraft dumping fuel, but I don't know of any situations where they do this that's not an emergency.

???

-spence

Raven · 09-20-2009, 01:53 AM

recently scientists have determined that lightening bolts go up
and away from earth.... instead of just downwards....called sprites. Then there is ball lightening. Energy takes on so many forms. there is still much to be discovered and we have only just seen the tip of the iceberg.

GattaFish · 09-20-2009, 04:55 AM

Spence there were a few guys south of you who saw the same thing,,

Due to the direction of the cone it looked to me like something exited the earths atmosphere. That was Extremely high and very bright. The shear size of the plume was most likely visible along the whole northern part of the eastern seaboard.

It Definitely was NOT and airplane dumping fuel. it went straight up.

I was wondering if NASA launched something even checked the news and have not seen anything yet,,,

derf · 09-20-2009, 06:01 AM

it was a rocket from wallops is va
seems like it was seen by a lot of folks
NASA - Night Time Artificial Cloud Study Using NASA Sounding Rocket
Wallops Flight Facility

Goose · 09-20-2009, 06:42 AM

Seen something like that last night right around that time. I thought it was a burning star, there was a huge pear shaped ball of smoke left in the sky...went for the camra but it was to late

Raven · 09-20-2009, 06:58 AM

spence · 09-20-2009, 09:01 AM

That would be it. I wonder what the trajectory was, it must have been very high up...

-spence

spence · 09-20-2009, 09:04 AM

173 miles! That sucker must have been moving...

NASA - Night Time Artificial Cloud Study Using NASA Sounding Rocket

-spence

JohnR · 09-20-2009, 09:19 AM

This was before the Block Island fireworks, right

? Saw an interesting red ball of light from the south later on, wonder if it was related. It was high and slowly drifting (not a flare). Guess I missed the white light you are talking about

spence · 09-20-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnR

This was before the Block Island fireworks, right

? Saw an interesting red ball of light from the south later on, wonder if it was related. It was high and slowly drifting (not a flare). Guess I missed the white light you are talking about

I believe it was after the fireworks, we saw these as well.

You couldn't have missed the plume, now that we know the altitude it must have been truly gigantic.

What gets me is how bright it was, like a billion candle power spot light was pointed downward. It must have been the last stage of the rocket illuminating the entire plume...but it was a very pure white.

-spence

BigFish · 09-20-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GattaFish

Spence there were a few guys south of you who saw the same thing,,

Due to the direction of the cone it looked to me like something exited the earths atmosphere. That was Extremely high and very bright. The shear size of the plume was most likely visible along the whole northern part of the eastern seaboard.

It Definitely was NOT and airplane dumping fuel. it went straight up.

I was wondering if NASA launched something even checked the news and have not seen anything yet,,,

Exiting the earths atmosphere....yes....it was the fish! Thats how they migrate these days....so I am told!

JohnR · 09-20-2009, 11:14 AM

What time did it happen? I must have been looking the wrong way. I saw the red ball of light that I couldn't explain (related to fireworks??) but did not see that plume. And it was oriented in the south?

PS does RIJimmy have a T-Top on his boat? Were you drifting just off of, Ohhh nevermind

spence · 09-20-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnR

What time did it happen? I must have been looking the wrong way. I saw the red ball of light that I couldn't explain (related to fireworks??) but did not see that plume. And it was oriented in the south?

From where we were it was due south, perhaps slightly south east, and stretched 40-70 degrees above the horizon.

-spence

GattaFish · 09-20-2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFish

Exiting the earths atmosphere....yes....it was the fish! Thats how they migrate these days....so I am told!

Must be,,, cuz ain't been squat here these days,,,,

BigFish · 09-20-2009, 12:51 PM

Thats the way I figure it Tom!

Goose · 09-20-2009, 01:28 PM

I observed it looking south, perhaps it came off Nomans?

Nebe · 09-20-2009, 02:04 PM

I don't know what is more amazing... The fact that something strange was in the sky or the fact that spence was fishing

Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

fishbones · 09-20-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebe

I don't know what is more amazing... The fact that something strange was in the sky or the fact that spence was fishing

Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Yeah, Spence was fishing. He brought the skunk out with him last night.

RIJIMMY · 09-21-2009, 08:06 AM

What Spence is trying to say is, after he met me, he saw skyrockets and shooting stars in the sky. I've had that effect on women but this is the first report from a male that I am aware of.

fishbones · 09-21-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

What Spence is trying to say is, after he met me, he saw skyrockets and shooting stars in the sky. I've had that effect on women but this is the first report from a male that I am aware of.

It was really uncomfortable when he said he was cold and asked you to snuggle with him to keep him warm.

I almost jumped in and swam back to shore.

JohnR · 09-21-2009, 09:16 AM

Were you guys drifting near the end of a prominent land location?

spence · 09-21-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnR

Were you guys drifting near the end of a prominent land location?

Yes.

-spence

The Dad Fisherman · 09-21-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spence

So Fishbones and I are on RIJIMMY's boat tonight, in the West Passage, around 8:30pm looking for some bass. RIJIMMY was there as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

What Spence is trying to say is, after he met me, he saw skyrockets and shooting stars in the sky. I've had that effect on women but this is the first report from a male that I am aware of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishbones

It was really uncomfortable when he said he was cold and asked you to snuggle with him to keep him warm.

I almost jumped in and swam back to shore.

Why do I all of a sudden have a picture of a Midget playing the Banjo on the Bow of the boat....and Spence doing his best Ned Beatty impersonation

spence · 09-21-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Why do I all of a sudden have a picture of a Midget playing the Banjo on the Bow of the boat....and Spence doing his best Ned Beatty impersonation

I wouldn't read too much into their comments.

RIJIMMY's big accomplishment of the evening was foul hooking a bluefish, and Fishbones kept on skipping his eels over rocks saying "just got a hit" "just got another hit"

-spence

FishermanTim · 09-21-2009, 10:20 AM

It was a "Class IV full-roaming vapor"

MotoXcowboy · 09-21-2009, 07:15 PM

I was fishing Jamestown that night with 3 other guys. Saw the same thing. I thought it may have been an asteroid or a satelite burning up into the atmosphere, it was real bright then in faded into a cloud then just vanished. yeah that was wierd.... looked like a gigantic spotlight but way to far up for a search party to be looking over the ocean. the guys i was were fishing with were all

their reaction was funny as hell, one guy kept saying he wanted to leave, thought it was ufo or something...

BMEUPSCOTTY · 09-28-2009, 08:10 AM

I don't know what night it was but one night this week somewhere on the southwestern end of the vineyard I was watching two objects in the sky and the way they were moving the only thing I could think of is that they were kites with lights on them???? They were WAAAAY up there though, if that's what they were... do they light up kites for night fishing out deep??