I noticed today a bunch of Google balloons hovering in southern VA, northern NC.
Just in case is anyone in that area that might be interested to see them.
I can see only two with my antenna.
2 Likes
From what i have seen in the past, they are at an altitude which makes it hard to see them.
1 Like
Thanks for the heads-up!
Just as I saw your message, my receiver started tracking HBAL218 at FL603!! I’ve been waiting forever to pick one up!
2 Likes
The collective noun for loons is apparently an ‘asylum’, (although they can also be referred to as a ‘cry’ and believe it or not, a ‘water dance’. Who knew?)
Regardless, there were seven loons (six plus a straggler) that have been taking a tour, so to speak. They left Winnemucca, Nevada, on dates ranging from June 23rd through June 30th, came up here over Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada last Friday, and have been heading east and south ever since. We’ve had three at one time before, but seven so close together is new.
They make for a pretty stable signal source for antenna testing, when they’re around.
Apparently the best time to try to see them with the naked eye, is sunrise and sunset, when they can sometimes be seen as a bright dot in the sky.
3 Likes
I have been viewing 6 of them off the coast of South Carolina most of the morning They ranged anywhere from 25 nm to 125 nm out over the Atlantic Ocean. HBAL220 seems the be following the coast line of the US. FL602 to FL 609. Most of them are now off the coast of northern Georgia. Happy viewing!
KB4ERT
2 Likes
So when these land, does Google put them in the “loony bin?” 
1 Like
I picked up a Google Loon balloon on my feeder here in California today.
You can see the balloon’s slow progress towards my station as the downward line artifact of the max ADS-B range of my feeder.
2 Likes
Been several over West Texas lately at 60k
Got three over SW New Mexico at the time of this posting. Just popped up.
1 Like
