|
Credit & Copyright: Brendan Gully
Explanation:
At sunset on December 6 a
Rocket Lab Electron rocket was launched
from a rotating planet.
With multiple small satellites on board it
departed on a mission to low Earth orbit dubbed
Running
Out of Fingers
from Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand's north island.
The firey trace of the Electron's graceful launch arc is
toward the south in this southern sea and skyscape.
Drifting vapor trails and rocket exhaust plumes catch the
sunlight even as the sky grows dark though,
the setting Sun still shinning at altitude along the rocket's trajectory.
Fixed to a tripod, the camera's perspective
nearly aligns the peak of the rocket arc with the South Celestial Pole,
but no bright star
marks that location in the southern hemisphere's evening sky.
Still, it's easy to find at the center of the star trail arcs
in
the timelapse composite.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: launch - south pole
Publications with words: launch - south pole
See also: