There was another twilight rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Flight Base that provided a spectacular event visible in Arizona on Saturday evening. The sky was still fairly bright so it was difficult to capture the expanding rocket exhaust in the early moments of the flight. But as the sky eventually darkened I was fascinated by the twisting shapes of the rocket contrail and rocket-induced noctilucent clouds. It was dark enough at this point to shoot longer exposures and create a time-lapse video of the clouds. The colors were magnificent–and very similar to what might be observed from naturally occuring noctilucent clouds at higher latitudes.
Falcon 9 second stage ascends into low Earth orbit and leaves behind a brilliant plume. The tiny point of light trailing the 2nd stage is from the descending 1st stage.Falcon 9 second stage ascends into low Earth orbit and leaves behind a brilliant plume. The tiny point of light trailing the 2nd stage is from the descending 1st stage. Note, also, the laminar flow of the gases in the middle of the frame while a more turbulent flow is present in the lower right.
Here are a set of images showing the amazing and colorful noctilucent clouds.
As the sky darkens the noctilucent clouds become more visible.The colors become more dramatic in this view ~37 minutes after launch.Dramatic colors are present in this view ~45 minutes after launch.
Finally, a time-lapse video of the launch and wind-twisted noctilucent clouds.
Time-lapse video of the rocket launch and the wind-twisted noctilucent clouds.
The next launch on the schedule is NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions.
Wide-angle photograph of the Firefly Alpha launch. The exhaust plume from the 1st stage can be seen low near the horizon while the rapidly expanding rocket exhaust from the 2nd stage develops an arch shape. Also visible is the red glow in the ionosphere.
The 5th flight of a Firefly Alpha rocket was launched from Vandenberg Space Flight Base last week (03 July 2024). This was the first time I had observed a Firefly launch and was not certain what to expect. I started photographing the launch using a telephoto (80mm) but a few minutes into the flight I realized I needed a wide-angle lens (12mm) to fully capture the rapidly expanding rocket exhaust.
Firefly Alpha rises above the trees as seen from Upper Lake Mary near Flagstaff, Arizona. (80mm telephoto)
I manually tracked the flight and captured a few more images in which the 1st stage and fairings can be seen.
Firefly Alpha 2nd stage rocket with 1st stage following a short distance behind.Firefly Alpha launch with 2nd stage. The 1st stage is executing a spiral as it begins its descent.The 1st stage continues to produce a spiral rocket exhaust cloud.
Using the wide angle lens I was able to capture a sequence of images suitable for time lapse, presented below.
Time lapse video of the Firefly Alpha rocket launch from Vandenberg SFB on 03 July 2024.
As noted above, I switched from a telephoto lens to wide angle lens a few minutes into the flight–thus the time lapse starts well after launch. Nonetheless, the rapidly expanding rocket exhaust shows up well. Also, there is a hole punched in the ionosphere causing it to glow red. This video was featured on Spaceweather.com and a description of the red glow was provided:
The lingering red glow is “the hole.” Earth’s ionosphere is a layer of electrically-conducting gas enveloping our planet more than 100 km high. It plays a key role in shortwave radio communications and GPS positioning. When Alpha burned through the ionosphere, water and carbon dioxide in therocket’s exhaust quenched local ionization by as much as 70%. Red light is the afterglow of this process.
It was spectacular to watch and photograph. As always, I look forward to additional launches from Vandenberg SFB.
There was yet another twilight launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Flight Base on Saturday evening. These launches can be magnificent to watch as the expanding gases from the rocket exhaust are illuminated by the sun–already well below the horizon. It lights up bright at first then slowly dims as the exhaust thins and spreads across the sky and the sun drops lower. The clouds can be colorful much like noctilucent clouds (“night shining clouds”).
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Flight Base. The image was shot from within the San Francisco Volcanic Fields.SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Flight Base.Noctilucent clouds from the rocket exhaust linger into twilight.
And here are two time-lapse sequences of the rocket and the noctilucent clouds.
Time lapse of the SpaceX Falcon 9 accelerating across the western sky.
Time lapse of the expanding noctilucent cloud in the western sky.
The cadence of launches is increasing and we will see many more of these in the weeks and months. Hopefully, some of them will be during twilight.
Bonus: while watching we saw a fireball cross the sky from low in the east, moving overhead, then finally ending in the west. It was so bright that you almost felt that you could reach out and grab it. Wow!
There have been few opportunities for capturing night sky objects owing to clouds and the presence of the Moon. That doesn’t stop me from trying.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks and Triangulum Galaxy (M33).
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks and M33 (Triangulam Galaxy).
Clouds, a bright waxing Moon, and some distant light pollution made it difficult to capture this comet. This was taken at the base of Arizona Snowbowl ski area at 2830 m; the elevation helps to get above some of the atmospheric haze.
Sunspots AR3615 and AR3614
Several large sunspots are visible on the face of the Sun (27 March 2024).
Zodiacal Light
Zodiacal light, Jupiter, and Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks (28 March 2024).
While setting up to photograph a launch at Vandenberg SFB (which was scrubbed), I fired off a few test shots of the zodiacal light. In review, I noticed that I also captured Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. Small–very small–when shot with a 24mm wide-angle lens.
Now, the Moon is out of the way and the forecast indicates a few clear nights so maybe I’ll get another change to shoot some images of the comet.
I was fortunate to see another spectacular launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Christmas Eve morning. I typically check the launch listing sites every few days to keep track of when the next launch will be. These are listed weeks or even months ahead of the launch date–although the dates can and do change. There are exceptions to this advance posting: certain top-secret satellites are often announced with only 24 hours notice. The SARah 2 & 3 satellites had this abbreviated announcement.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch the SARah 2 & 3 satellites into LEO (Low Earth Orbit). Exhaust from the second stage is illuminated by the Sun as it ascends.First stage separation and return.
Fortunately, I happened to check the updated schedule about 12 hours before launch so I was able to make preparations for viewing it.
The launch was scheduled for 0611 MST (0511 PST) on the morning of December 24. I went north of Flagstaff to the San Francisco Volcanic Field.
The launch was on time at 0611 MST and about a minute later I was able to see the rocket as it rose above the horizon. I wasalso able to photograph the first stage separation. A few minutes later the high-level clouds appeared once the rocket had ascended high enough to be illuminated by the Sun–which was still well below the horizon at my location.
Here are a few photographs of the launch plus a time-lapse video that shows the dramatic expansion of the high-altitude cloud from the rocket exhaust.
SpaceX/Falcon 9 launch of the SARah 2 & 3 satellites.
The next launch is in a week but may be too late in the evening to catch the last light of twilight.
