Astronomy Picture of the Day -- OCO-2 Night Launch

NASA ^ | July 04, 2014 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: In this alluring time exposure, star trails arc across the night sky above foggy Monterey Bay and the lights of Santa Cruz, California in the United States of America. Since the exposure began around 2:56am PDT on July 2 it also records the trail of a Delta II rocket lofting NASA's OCO-2 spacecraft into orbit. Seen from a vantage point 200 miles north of the Vandenberg Air Force Base launch site, the trail represents the first five minutes of the rocket's flight along a trajectory south and west over the Pacific to join the A-Train in polar orbit around planet Earth. The entire trail through main engine cut-off is captured, with a very faint puff at the end marking the nose fairing separation. Under the rocket's path, the two brightest trails are the alpha and beta stars of the constellation Grus, flying high in southern skies. The OCO-2 mission goal is a study of atmospheric carbon dioxide, watching from space as planet Earth breathes.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Rick Baldridge]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

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Hi Sunken Civ!
Happy Independence Day!

[NormsRevenge]

If I had a hot tub full of chicks and my wife was out of time..

Could it see ‘us’ and record the ‘event’?

NO?

Good. Whew

WE don’t don’t have a hot tub anyway.

[NormsRevenge]

Talk about a black hole..

More like gubamint stepping down a dark corridor..

Grasping for this butt.

[NormsRevenge]

Ever breath you make
Every fart you take

OCO-2 will be
watching you too TOO TOOOO!!!

So drop the burrito
Stock up on bean-o

Cuz were goin’ be
Watching you You YOUUUUU

-— apologies to sting and police

[doorgunner69]

One of the very few things I miss about living in SoCal is seeing the Vandenburg missile launches.

Some were truly spectacular.

[SunkenCiv]

I’ve always wanted to watch a launch, but have never been in the right place at the right time.

[doorgunner69]

I am still on a mailing list for Vandenburg launch schedules and updates if you are interested. The civilian launches are fairly precise on timing, the military are more vague, but give you a hint when to start watching.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks, and back atcha. Out here in the boonies the fireworks have been going off in the distance since the afternoon.