Followup on Missile Report in Texas

A followup to the post of last week entitled "Bogey at 13,000 feet".

Officials now believe it was a model rocket.

They'd still like to know who launched it.

Nothing New Under the Sun?

But how about a new type of cloud?

National Geographic is reporting the quest of Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, to have declared that a new type of cloud has been found.

The British cloud enthusiast said he began getting photos of "dramatic" and "weird" clouds (including the above) in 2005 that he didn't know how to define.

A few months ago he began preparing to propose the odd formations as a new cloud variety to the UN's World Meteorological Organization, which classifies cloud types.

Pretor-Pinney jokingly calls it the "Jacques Cousteau cloud," after its resemblance to a roiling ocean surface seen from below. But the cloud fan has proposed a "formal," Latin name: Undulus asperatus"; roughly, "a very turbulent, violent, chaotic form of undulation," explained Pretor-Pinney, author of the new Cloud Collector's Handbook.

Margaret LeMone, a cloud expert with the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, said that she has taken photos of asperatus clouds intermittently over the past 30 years.

It's likely that the cloud will turn out to be a new variety, LeMone said.

If you want to see a photo of the new cloud nominee, click the above link.

Bogey At 13,000 Feet

The skies aren't getting any friendlier. From the Houston Chronicle:

Liberty County Sheriff’s officials are expected to meet with the FAA on Tuesday to discuss what a Continental Express pilot reported as a “missile or rocket” flying near his airplane.

A pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration that at about 8:15 p.m. Friday, an object passed within 150 feet beneath the aircraft, sheriff’s officials said.

The aircraft was near the southern edge of the county, flying at about 13,000 feet, officials said.

“The pilot, from what we understand, was former military. He was able to get the coordinates down real quick,” said Cpl. Hugh Bishop with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s deputies searched Friday night for signs of evidence where a missile might have been launched or landed.

“We couldn’t find anything,” Bishop said.

Why the FAA is finally, after three days, getting around to meeting with them is a bit puzzling.

It could be the work of "rocket boys" hopped up on Red Bull, having a little fun with the science experiment Uncle Ted sent at Christmas.

But it could be something more serious. You'd hope the feds would act like it.

What Are We Looking At

This video purportedly was shot in Russia. There's a lot of speculation as to whether it is a hoax or an elaborate attempt by scientists to influence public opinion.

Other than to say that there are prophecies that describe a coming series of "signs in the heavens" attesting to the truth of Jesus and His eventual return, I have no idea whether it's faked or not.

But it is interesting.