Is this a rocket launch?

[The_MAC]

Saw this on 14 May (Tuesday) @ 17:30.

It was moving upwards. I was standing in Sunninghill looking towards Fourways/Lonehill.

Sorry for the poor pic, it was dark and I used a phone.

 

[MEIOT]

More likely a Meteorite burning up. Up and Down is a man made construct...technically it's all about perspective.

Not commonly known but meteorites can rise from the horizon. I've seen quite a few similar occurrences to yours. Puzzled me at the time too

 

[MEIOT]

https://www.quora.com/In-a-meteor-s...meteors-rise-towards-the-sky-from-the-horizon

 

[The_MAC]

https://www.quora.com/In-a-meteor-s...meteors-rise-towards-the-sky-from-the-horizon

aha, thanks

 

[Aquila ka Hecate]

Yes, probably Eta Lyrids, as you've already guessed.
I like this picture better:

 

[Gordon_R]

Far more likely to be a jet condensation trail back-lit by the setting sun, with the amount of high cirrus cloud passing over the Cape country recently.

Nothing like any meteor photo I have ever seen.

Satellite photo at 5pm on Tues 14th:

 

[MEIOT]

Far more likely to be a jet condensation trail back-lit by the setting sun, with the amount of high cirrus cloud passing over the Cape recently.

Nothing like any meteor photo I have ever seen.

Satellite photo at 5pm on Tues 14th:
View attachment 658940

Pic was take in JHB

 

[Gordon_R]

Pic was take in JHB

Yes, I can read...

Edit: I don't live in Joburg, so can't make a categorical statement, but from both the ground photo, and the satellite view, it is obvious that there was a lot of cirrus around.

 

[MEIOT]

Yes, I can read...

Okay then.

There goes that theory.


Well - at the least OP has options to consider then

 

[The_MAC]

Far more likely to be a jet condensation trail back-lit by the setting sun, with the amount of high cirrus cloud passing over the Cape country recently.

Nothing like any meteor photo I have ever seen.

Satellite photo at 5pm on Tues 14th:
View attachment 658940

I guess it could have been a take-off from Lanseria airport. But that gradient didn't resemble other condensation clouds you see daily, and it was relatively "wide" in it's profile.

 

[Bobbin]

I noticed something similar in that area two or three years ago. I was on the N1 approaching William Nicol. There was something resembling a rocket moving upwards in the distance. And not so much of an angle as OP pic and had much more of a trail but still looked the same IIRC. My only thought was those amateur rocketry guys (Not sure if any in JHB) but otherwise I had no idea what I was seeing.