Iridescent glow around payload fairing during rocket launch
Taken by Bill Patterson on July 30, 2020 @
NJ, but the event was at Cape Kennedy
Click photo for larger image
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Camera Used: Canon Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Exposure Time: 1/2500
Aperture: f/8.0
ISO: 320
Date Taken: 2020:07:30 10:35:21
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Details:
During the Atlas V launch of the Mars 2020 mission, something unprecedented happened. A multi-colored glow appeared around the payload fairing. Observers of dozens of rocket launches have never seen anything like it. Here's the picture of it:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/50174490922/
Here's the NASA feed of the launch. Watch around the 49:12 mark for the phenomenon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIB3JbIIbPU
Lew Cowley, of Atmospheric Optics (www.atoptics.co.uk) has a full writeup, explaining the phenomenon, called 'iridescence' www.atoptics.co.uk/fza228.htm
None of us: the photographer, Les, nor myself, all avid rocket launch viewers, had ever seen anything like it.
Photographer's website:
No URL provided.
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