Fleet Week had plenty of roaring across the sky over the weekend. If the Blue Angels left you wanting more, there’s another rare chance to check out a manmade object hurtling into the horizon on Monday night.
NASA’s Wallops Island, located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, is set to see its first rocket launch in two years.
As pictured above, Baltimore is well within the rainbow of visibility for the launch. According to space.com, anyone who wants to hop out on the roofdeck, backyard or alley-side slab that some might call a backyard should head out around 7:30 p.m. The launch is at 7:40 p.m., so you’ll want to be in position. It’s heading away from the mainland, but there’s still a chance to grab a glimpse if the skies remain clear. In Baltimore, we should be able to see the rocket until it gets to about 10 degrees above the horizon. Look to the south-southeast direction. When it’s about 7:42 p.m., keep your eyes locked in that direction.
The launch was supposed to be on Sunday, but got postponed due to a gear malfunction. Weather can also play a factor, but things are looking good:
Weather is ? go for launch tonight! @NASA_Wallops
— Orbital ATK (@OrbitalATK) October 17, 2016
Aside from being cool, the launch is important for Wallops Island. The unmanned Antares rocket, developed by Orbital ATK, will be the first since another rocket exploded in 2014. It’s also carrying supplies for the International Space Station.
