Posted on 09/05/2015 2:25:04 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Early morning risers along Florida's Space Coast, planet Earth, were treated to a launch spectacle on September 2nd. Before dawn an Atlas V rocket rose into still dark skies carrying a US Navy communications satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station into Earth orbit. This minutes long exposure follows the rocket's arc climbing eastward over the Atlantic. As the rocket rises above Earth's shadow, its fiery trail becomes an eerie, noctilucent exhaust plume glinting in sunlight. Of course, the short, bright startrail just above the cloud bank is Venus rising, now appearing in planet Earth's skies as the brilliant morning star
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[Credit and Copyright: Mike Deep]
“Noctilucent”. That is a new one for me. Don’t believe I’ve ever seen it before, yet it reads like I ought to have.
I saw this lunch from the west coast of Florida and while I haven’t seen dozens of them, this may have been one of the most spectacular ones ever, judging by the amount of calls to radio and TV stations by local observers.
It was phenomenal.
Lunch, eh? Thanks autocorrect.
I did not make this video but it shows the con trail hitting the sun at the 2:20 mark and at 4:20 multiple shock waves ripple. This is the same view I had from my front yard. I have watched at least 40 launches and this one was by far the most spectacular one ever. I watched live and chatted with about 10 friends on handheld and mobile HAM radios. Only two of us knew what we were seeing when it lit up, everyone else freaked out as they thought it blew up. Also, the ones driving said every vehicle driving east pulled over and the drivers jumped out and started taking pictures and videos. Then the 911 boards and news stations lit up with frantic callers that thought it exploded, too. If you haven't seen this video on the news, take a couple minutes to see this beautiful launch. Also, my daughter's roommate in college works on the Altas V engines and their best friend works on the Delta engines. It great to see these young girl's accomplishments in these days of idiot kids and trash culture. It puts a smile on my face!
There will be another predawn launch Oct 2.
There will be another predawn launch Oct 2.
There will be another predawn launch Oct 2.
Saw a rocket go up from Vandenberg AFB while flying SF-LA, at sunset inland looking west. Spectacular Roman candle.
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