* Astronomy

A specially configured Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled to launch from North Vandenberg’s Launch Facility-6 Tuesday to test the Missile Defence Agency’s sensors.
Col. Teresa Djuric, 30th Space Wing vice commander, is the spacelift commander for this launch. Representing MDA locally is Mr. Richard Vernetti who is MDA’s target mission director.

Lift-off is probably scheduled to occur at, or shortly after, 20:30 PDT, the start of a multi-hour launch window. If the weather is clear, the event should be visible to the naked eye over a wide area.
If the launch occurs early in the window, the vehicle might climb into sunlight during the third stage burn. That would illuminate the missile's exhaust plume, creating an impressive display visible in California, Arizona, Nevada, and northern Mexico.
If the vehicle does not catch the sun's rays during the powered phase, the event should be visible for a few hundred miles and resemble an orange fireball or perhaps an orange or red star.
 Since the launch is part of a sensitive missile defence test, countdown status will probably be unavailable to the public.

Vandenberg AFB news release

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