Rocket Launch from Vandenberg SFB

Over the years there have been some rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base (SFB) that have been spectacular even when viewed from here in northern Arizona. This requires that the launch occur during twilight. During the day the bright sky overwhelms the faint light of the launch; at night there is no light other than the glow from the rocket engines.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket climbs into the night sky after a launch from Vandenberg SFB.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket climbs into the night sky after a launch from Vandenberg SFB.
Composite of two images taken 13 seconds apart.
Composite of two images taken 13 seconds apart.

At twilight the sky is dark but as the rocket rises higher it is lit by the Sun and the exhaust gases from the rocket engines are illuminated. Twilight launches do not occur often so being able to see one is an infrequent event. Also, clouds can obscure the view reducing the number of times that one can see these events.

Last night–after a one-day reschedule owing to an abort at T-5 seconds–SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket into the sky from Vandenberg SFB at 2109 MST. The end of astronomical twilight was at 2120 MST in Flagstaff (and 2154 at Vandenberg) so there was reason to expect a good show as the rocket rose out of darkness and into the twilight-illuminated sky.

Rocket exhaust gases illuminated in the twilight sky (21:17:03 MST 19 July 2023).
Rocket exhaust gases illuminated in the twilight sky (21:17:03 MST 19 July 2023).
Rocket exhaust gases illuminated in the twilight sky (21:18:26 MST 19 July 2023).
Rocket exhaust gases illuminated in the twilight sky (21:18:26 MST 19 July 2023).
Rocket exhaust gases illuminated in the twilight sky (21:20:35 MST 19 July 2023).
Rocket exhaust gases illuminated in the twilight sky (21:20:35 MST 19 July 2023).
Rocket exhaust gases illuminated in the twilight sky (21:22:12 MST 19 July 2023).
Rocket exhaust gases illuminated in the twilight sky (21:22:12 MST 19 July 2023).

It was a good show. It took a few minutes for the rocket to rise above the western horizon and into the light but once that occurred it was easy to see. The rocket was visible until 2115 and then was blocked by distant clouds. After it was gone, the glowing exhaust gases remained visible for a few more minutes then faded quickly.

Beautiful!

An explanation for the red glow can be found at SpaceWeather.com.

Edit: Added more photos and a link to SpaceWeather.com

Milky Way with Reflections

Clear skies and light winds presented an opportunity to photograph the Milky Way with reflections in smooth water. Upper Lake Mary had the best orientation to look down the lake. In addition, accessing this lake is very easy with a parking lot just a short distance from where the image was taken. Finally, another factor is this past winter had a lot of snowmelt that filled the lake to capacity for the first time in several years.

Milky Way with reflections in Upper Lake Mary.
Milky Way with reflections in Upper Lake Mary.

It’s interesting that the star colors are more saturated in the reflections compared to the sky.

The glow on the right is the light dome from Phoenix.

Wildflowers IV

We continue to enjoy seeing wildflowers on our hikes in northern Arizona–although the extended dry period has reduced the numbers. Recently we hiked the Arizona Trail between Aspen Corner and Bismark Lake.

Wildflowers seen along the Arizona Trail between Aspen Corner and Bismark Lake.
Wildflowers seen along the Arizona Trail between Aspen Corner and Bismark Lake.

As before,  identification of the flowers was done via an iPhone app and reverse image lookup. There may be errors.

Moon and Cathedral Rock–July 2023

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It is the season for capturing the nearly-full Moon as it rises behind Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona. The best time to capture this is a day (or two) before the actual full Moon so that late afternoon sunlight still illuminates Cathedral Rock. The Photographers Ephemeris (TPE) was used to determine the best location to shoot this as it became visible between the towers.

The nearly-full Moon rises behind Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona.
The nearly-full Moon rises behind Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona.

The Moon rose into the gap between the north buttress and the spires about 45 minutes before sunset. Here are two shots of the Moon taken ~90 seconds apart as the Moon rose higher. I particularly like the spire that is in shadow because of the illusion that the spires are casting a shadow on the Moon.

The Moon rises above the clouds at Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona (1909 MST)
The Moon rises above the clouds at Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona (1909 MST).
A nearly-full Moon during twilight (1943 MST).
A nearly-full Moon during twilight (1943 MST).

As the Moon rose higher it was obscured by clouds and then made a reappearance above the clouds.

Wildflowers III

We continue to see many wildflowers on our hikes in northern Arizona. This week we hiked the Kachina Trail on the San Francisco Peaks and the Kelly Canyon Trail south of Flagstaff.

Wildflowers seen along the Kachina Trail on the San Francisco Peaks.
Wildflowers seen along the Kachina Trail on the San Francisco Peaks.
Wildflowers along the Kelly Canyon Trail south of Flagstaff.
Wildflowers along the Kelly Canyon Trail south of Flagstaff.

Identification of the flowers was done via an iPhone app and reverse image lookup. There may be errors.