Update: For the second consecutive night, cloudy weather forced NASA to cancel the scheduled launch of Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket.



Just after 9 p.m. Tuesday night, a rocket will launch from Wallops Island that will create colorful clouds. Depending on the conditions, it might even look like an artificial aurora, and if you’re anywhere from New York to North Carolina, you have a shot at seeing the science in action.

There are 10 canisters of chemicals on board this rocket, which will begin to deploy about four minutes after launch. The chemicals will mix with the atmosphere to create artificially colored clouds so scientists can study the way air moves at very high altitudes. Cameras are set up at Wallops and in Duck, N.C., to track the color tracers through the air.

Three chemicals will interact to form the color tracers — barium, strontium and cupric-oxide. None of these chemicals will be a hazard to anyone on the coast.

The launch window for the Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket is between 9:04 p.m. and 9:19 p.m. It’s the sixth attempt NASA has made to launch this particular mission. Previous launches were scrapped because of weather, and Sunday night’s attempt was called off because of boats in the “no-boating” zone.

NASA also attempted to launch this rocket on Monday night, but clouds would have prevented scientists from performing their study.

Hopefully the skies will be more clear on Tuesday night, though scattered clouds are likely.

Scroll below the graphic to read how to see it.



This map shows when you can expect to see the launch. For everyone outside the immediate launch area, it will take about 220 seconds to appear. (NASA)

Launch window: 9:04 p.m. to 9:19 p.m.

What you could see: Colorful clouds, aurora-like glowing

How to see it: Head outside at 9 p.m. and look toward Wallops Flight Facility (if you’re in the D.C. area, that’s southeast). Find an area that gives you a relatively unobstructed view of the sky. Take some binoculars — they might help you see the event better. On your smartphone, pull up NASA TV on YouTube or follow @NASA Wallops on Twitter so you know when the launch is happening or if it’s canceled.

Approximately four minutes after the rocket launches, the canisters will be deployed. At this point, you should see colorful clouds or even an aurora-like glow. We’ve never seen something like this ourselves, so we don’t know exactly what to expect!

If you get photos of the event, send them to us on Twitter or Facebook, or via email!

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