Rocket Launch
Taken by Jeremy Perez on July 19, 2023 @
San Francisco Volcanic Field, Arizona, USA
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Camera Used: Canon Canon EOS R5
Exposure Time: 4/1
Aperture: f/4.0
ISO: 6400
Date Taken: 2023:07:21 11:57:48
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Details:
I had a chance to view the Vandenberg Falcon 9 launch from north of Flagstaff, AZ, USA, Wednesday night. There were definitely some interesting effects in play. Geometry of the exhaust plume and conical margin of twilight allowed the exhaust to catch a slice of sunlit backlighting as it hopped in and then sailed back out of the sunlight. It also dragged out a long, red fluorescent trail that didn't care whether there was any sunlight to show it off. Just now read that this is an ionosphere interaction that I wasn't aware of before. I know I don't recall seeing that feature as prominently on previous launches, but figured maybe it was because this was in deeper twilight and easier to see? Or maybe it just doesn't occur every time. It makes me think it might be worth trying for just that red plume on overnight launches with no twilight effect in play and when I otherwise wouldn't bother trying.
First image — 0416Z — 4 sec exposure — shows the vehicle streaking through the sunlight with red fluorescent streak just beginning to appear along with some blue along the top.
Second image — 0417Z — 8 sec exposure — shows the reflected twilight display blended with the red fluorescence. You can see the thin trail of the vehicle dipping into Earth shadow at tip of the red arc in this image.
Third image — 0425Z — 30 sec exposure — shows the red fluorescence now expanding southward and crossing over the Milky Way. This gradually faded but still at visible at least until 0443Z.
Photographer's website:
https://http://www.perezmedia.net
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