Comet fragment or rocket explosion over Russia?

[Gawan]

There are two reports out there with the remaining of a comet fragment cloud or most likely it is one. According to one article it is suspected that it was a rocket since a rocket base isn't too far away from where some of the reportings are coming from (Astrakhan).

A witness reported an explosion to be heard and something that go split of from the object. Unfortunately there is only one German report I could find which only gives one reference link to the picture above. In the article it is mentioned that videos were taken, reported on social media sited but no links and also youtube wasn't of any help yet, and not speaking of the picture search.

_http://astrakhanpost.ru/index.php/glavnoe/item/5062-%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%86%D1%8B-%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%BB%D0%BE-%D0%B2-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B4-%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC

http://de.sott.net/article/14569

It is supposed to be witnessed in the Volga regions, Volgograd and Astrakhan according to the German voice of Russia article. And closest sources that are given are: Agency Dostup, ura.ru

Another article pointed to a rocket launch:

_http://www.uz24.uz/en/Society/residents-of-tashkent-saw-traces-of-missile-launched-in-astrakhan

 

[Siberia]

Hmm.. interesting. Thanks for posting, I haven't seen this news anywhere yet.

The text of the first link that you gave goes as follows (my translation):

Astrakhan citizens saw another UFO in their skies. The glowing trace of this object is many kilometers long. The citizens of this region all go outside to watch the unusual sight. Many people suggest mysterious explanations.

Some of them believe that it was a UFO flying over Astrakhan. Others hypothesize that it is connected with some military operations. In fact, this trace belongs to TOPOL ballistic rocket launched from the Kapustin Yar missile range.

No need to worry, Astrakhans. This launch is not the first one and it is for training purposes only. The trace can be well seen far beyond Russia's borders.

Edit: here is the video from Volgograd

http://<iframe width="560" height="...3w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Anthony]

Same thing in Hawaii, on the same date. They're claiming it is a missile launch.

_http://khon2.com/2014/05/20/what-were-the-lights-in-the-sky/

 

[Siberia]

Yep. The same news from Kazakhstan (it's only in Russian but with a photo attached):

http://www.knews.kg/mezhdunarodnye_novosti/50047_kazahstanskie_uchenyie_obyyasnili_svechenie_raketyi_topol_foto/.

The zigzag trajectory of this missile is to avoid its possible knockdown by the enemy, Kazakhstan scientists explain. The missile was launched in Russia and successfully hit its hypothetical target in Kazakhstan.

 

[KJN]

I used to live in California about 40 miles from Vandenburg Air Force Base. All their rocket launches looked exactly like the photo posted.

 

[Chad]

Article confirming the missile test launch in English

http://missilethreat.com/russia-conducts-test-launch-of-ballistic-missile/


Russia conducts test-launch of ballistic missile
Business Standard

Originally published at
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/russia-conducts-test-launch-of-ballistic-missile-114052100271_1.html
Posted on May 20, 2014 by editor
topol-m-trail

“Topol-M” in the sky over Astrakhan

Russia today carried out a successful test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, news agencies reported citing the defence ministry, amid a standoff between Moscow and the West over Ukraine.

Interfax and ITAR-TASS quoted the defence ministry as saying a successful test of the RS-12M Topol ICBM had been carried out from Russia’s Kapustin Yar rocket launch site near the Caspian Sea at 2238 IST (1708 GMT).

The missile hit its target in the Sary Shagan ballistic missile test range that Russia leases in Kazakhstan, it said.

“The purpose of the launch was to test a prospective warhead of intercontinental ballistic missiles,” Interfax quoted defence ministry spokesman Igor Yegorov as saying, without providing further details.

Russia reportedly carried out previous tests in December and March of the RS-12M Topol, a road-mobile missile first put into service in the 1980s and then repeatedly modified.

It is referred to as the SS-25 Sickle by NATO and has a reported maximum range of 10,000 kilometres.

Russia earlier this month test-launched several ballistic missions during military exercises overseen by President Vladimir Putin.

The tests have been conducted amid a continued standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine, where Moscow seized the Crimean peninsula in March and pro-Russian rebels have taken control of parts of the east of the country.

Tensions seem to have eased in recent days however, ahead of a presidential vote on Sunday aimed at bringing Ukraine out of crisis.

 

[Gawan]

Thanks for the reports and comments, though a missile it is most likely according to media :). Nonetheless I find the cloud interesting and may be the result of comet dust in the atmosphere, beside that some years ago exactly something similar happened near Astrakhan and also with a Topol missile, maybe it was also a missile back then, who knows:

http://www.sott.net/article/248094-Reading-Celestial-Intentions-Through-the-Wrong-End-of-the-Telescope-Missiles-UFOs-and-the-Cold-War