3 ms·

> Launch postponed due to lightning from an approaching anvil cloud (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/587715056432889856 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/

• sfeng 12y ago
  You can detect lightening using ground based detectors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convective_storm_detection#Lightning_detection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convective_storm_detection#Ligh... This specific delay though was caused by convective clouds being too close to the launch. This was probably determined with either ground based radar, or visible/IR images from satellites.
• fake-name 12y ago
  Using radio, presumably. There is a considerable body of research on detecting the presence and range of lightning: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_detection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_detection
• flowless 12y ago
  Antennas, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_detection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_detection
• peterwaller 12y ago
  Here's a link to a live Live lightning map: http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en
• jewel 12y ago
  Lightning can be detected from thousands of miles away. See http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en&page_0=30 http://www.blitzortung.org/Webpages/index.php?lang=en&page_0.... Turn on "detectors" on the right to see the distances involved. That site works by a using a network of cheap EMP detectors. It uses the timing differences from each sensor to trilaterate the position of the lightning strike.
  • whoisthemachine 12y ago
    That's a nifty website!