NASA Rocket Launch Tonight Could Be Visible Over South Jersey Skies
[UPDATE: The launch was pushed to Aug 26th, starting at 10:30PM]
South Jersey sky watchers could be in for a treat tonight as NASA prepares to launch its TOMEX+ mission from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. and yes! While it is launching in Virginia, you can see it in New Jersey.
NASA Rocket Launch Tonight Could Be Visible Over New Jersey Skies
The launch is targeting Monday, August 25, with a window that opens at 10 p.m. and runs until 3 a.m.
If conditions are clear, people across the Jersey Shore, including Cape May County, may spot the glowing trails of the rockets as they climb toward the edge of space.
NASA says visibility will depend on the weather, but the mid-Atlantic region is in the path to catch a glimpse.
NASA’s visibility map shows when different regions will be able to see the TOMEX+ rockets after liftoff.
South Jersey falls in the purple zone, meaning the rockets could become visible about 30 to 40 seconds after launch.
The Turbulent Oxygen Mixing Experiment Plus (TOMEX+) is designed to study one of the most fascinating parts of our atmosphere, known as the mesopause.
This layer sits about 53 to 65 miles above Earth and is the coldest part of the atmosphere, where temperatures can plunge to nearly minus 148 degrees Fahrenheit.
Scientists are especially interested in this layer because it’s where energy from our weather systems mixes and transfers into space.
The turbulence created here can even affect satellites orbiting Earth. Since it’s too high for weather balloons and too low for satellites, sounding rockets like TOMEX+ are the only way to study it.
Also See: Why Hurricane Erin Flooded the Jersey Shore Without Ever Coming Ashore
Unlike a typical rocket launch, TOMEX+ will actually use three rockets in quick succession. The first two will release colorful vapor tracers, which look like glowing clouds drifting through the night sky.
This means you will see a strange color in the sky. It’s not aliens!
These tracers help scientists measure wind patterns in the upper atmosphere, but for us here on the ground, they could appear as streaks or puffs of light high above.
The third rocket will carry a laser-based instrument designed to measure the motion of sodium atoms that float in the atmosphere thanks to tiny meteors burning up overhead.
Together, these three rockets will give researchers the best-ever 3D view of turbulence near the edge of space.
While the Wallops Visitor Center in Virginia will not be open for viewing, residents of South Jersey should keep an eye on the southern horizon after 10 p.m.
If skies are clear, the glowing tracers may be visible for up to a minute after launch.
The visibility map above shows South Jersey in the purple zone, meaning the rockets will likely become visible between 30 and 40 seconds after liftoff.
If you’d rather stay warm inside, NASA Wallops will livestream the launch online, beginning just five minutes before the scheduled window opens. Updates will also be posted to their Facebook and X pages.
Watch A NASA Rocket Launch From the Cape May Beach This Weekend!
For local sky watchers, TOMEX+ is not only a chance to see something rare in the night sky but also a reminder of how connected South Jersey is to the bigger picture of space exploration.
Research from missions like this helps improve satellite technology, our understanding of weather, and even the way we study atmospheres on other planets.
So tonight, if the clouds cooperate, step outside in Cape May County and look up. You just might see science lighting up the South Jersey sky.
If you do see it, shoot us the photo at WildwoodVideoArchive@gmail.com