Rocket launch in Upstate New York was a Vulcan Centaur model
Vulcan Centaur Rocket Launch Causes Unusual Sight in Upstate New York
The Vulcan Centaur rocket, United Launch Alliance's (ULA) powerful new launch vehicle, made a spectacular entrance into the night sky on August 12, 2025. The launch, which took place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, was visible as far north as Upstate New York, causing some confusion among residents who initially mistook the bright light for a UFO.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket was carrying an experimental U.S. military navigation satellite, marking the first such launch in 48 years. The satellite is designed to test new technologies that improve resistance to jamming and spoofing, providing position, navigation, and timing (PNT) data similar to GPS.
The launch occurred at around 8:56 p.m. EDT, and the rocket's trajectory over the Atlantic Ocean created a spectacularly visible plume and light show in the night sky. This luminous rocket plume was visible from Upstate New York, where residents saw a bright white light with an unusual aura. Many initially mistook it for a UFO, but it was confirmed to be the Vulcan Centaur's exhaust plume and boosters illuminated against the night sky during the launch.
The launch of the Vulcan Centaur rocket was one of the longest in history, extending more than 22,000 miles above Earth. The rocket's powerful side-mounted solid boosters provided the extra thrust needed to send the satellite into geosynchronous orbit over seven hours.
Meanwhile, stargazers across the country were also keeping their eyes on the night sky, as the Perseids meteor shower peaked on August 12. While the shower's peak occurred on this date, the shower continues past the peak until roughly September 1. The best stargazing advice is to lie down, look up, and keep light sources like a smartphone away. Raj Pandya, director of the John R. Kirk Planetarium at SUNY New Paltz, provided this advice.
In summary:
- The Vulcan Centaur rocket, United Launch Alliance's (ULA) powerful new launch vehicle, made a spectacular entrance into the night sky on August 12, 2025.
- The launch, which took place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, was visible as far north as Upstate New York, causing some confusion among residents who initially mistook the bright light for a UFO.
- The Vulcan Centaur rocket was carrying an experimental U.S. military navigation satellite, marking the first such launch in 48 years.
- The launches of the Vulcan Centaur rocket occur from both Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
- The Perseids meteor shower peaked on Aug 12, but the shower continues past the peak until roughly September 1.
- The best stargazing advice is to lie down, look up, and keep light sources like a smartphone away.
