How bright is a shuttle night launch

Wulfmann · 12-09-06, 09:11 PM

Below is an unretouched shot (reduced in file size considerably)from fifty miles away from the shuttle that just lifted off.
I have seen these all my life and worked three launches at KSC in 1994 but a black sky launch says much about the power of a shuttle going up.
The house in the foreground is my roof and the lens is a noraml perspective or what I saw with my eyes.
It is not meant to be spectacular as it is not but it is about 50 miles with the naked eye's view.

Wulfmann

fredbass · 12-09-06, 09:18 PM

On a good clear night, a night launch can easily be seen on the west coast of Florida for quite a few minutes. I'm just north of Tampa.

Cpt. Stewker · 12-09-06, 09:28 PM

Awesome pic man, I'll definitly load up some of mine that I got. I watched it from Daytona Beach. 45-50 miles north of the cape.

TteFAboB · 12-10-06, 02:25 AM

Well, that will give us about 500 UFO sighting reports from the less aware folks.

By the way, there's an UFO in your picture, that common-light-effect phenomenon near the top, right in the middle of the dark night background.

MobyGrape · 12-10-06, 02:52 PM

Yep Bright I saw it from west coast in Venice Fl when I uded to live there.

Cpt. Stewker · 12-10-06, 04:21 PM

Alright my brother, who begged me to be the one to take pictues and promised me he would do a good job, seriously maybe is the worst photographer in all the world. Here's the best I coul find out of what he took. It doesn't give the scene the justice it deserves.

Place: This is from Daytona Beach.
Time: Approx. 8:50pm ET
Facing: South
Distance from launch: 50 miles / 80 kilometers

12-09-06, 09:11 PM	#1
Wulfmann Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 1,010 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	How bright is a shuttle night launch Below is an unretouched shot (reduced in file size considerably)from fifty miles away from the shuttle that just lifted off. I have seen these all my life and worked three launches at KSC in 1994 but a black sky launch says much about the power of a shuttle going up. The house in the foreground is my roof and the lens is a noraml perspective or what I saw with my eyes. It is not meant to be spectacular as it is not but it is about 50 miles with the naked eye's view. Wulfmann __________________ "The right to keep and bear arms should not be infringed upon, if only to prevent tyranny in government" Thomas Jefferson,; Constitutional debates

12-09-06, 09:18 PM	#2
fredbass Ace of the Deep Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Port Richey, Fl, USA Posts: 1,066 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	On a good clear night, a night launch can easily be seen on the west coast of Florida for quite a few minutes. I'm just north of Tampa. __________________

12-09-06, 09:28 PM	#3
Cpt. Stewker Planesman Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bozeman, Montana, USA Posts: 192 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Awesome pic man, I'll definitly load up some of mine that I got. I watched it from Daytona Beach. 45-50 miles north of the cape. __________________

12-10-06, 02:25 AM	#4
TteFAboB Admiral Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,247 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Well, that will give us about 500 UFO sighting reports from the less aware folks. By the way, there's an UFO in your picture, that common-light-effect phenomenon near the top, right in the middle of the dark night background. __________________ "Tout ce qui est exagéré est insignifiant." ("All that is exaggerated is insignificant.") - Talleyrand

12-10-06, 04:21 PM	#6
Cpt. Stewker Planesman Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bozeman, Montana, USA Posts: 192 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Alright my brother, who begged me to be the one to take pictues and promised me he would do a good job, seriously maybe is the worst photographer in all the world. Here's the best I coul find out of what he took. It doesn't give the scene the justice it deserves. Place: This is from Daytona Beach. Time: Approx. 8:50pm ET Facing: South Distance from launch: 50 miles / 80 kilometers __________________ Last edited by Cpt. Stewker; 12-10-06 at 04:32 PM.

12-10-06, 02:52 PM	#5
MobyGrape Frogman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mid Pacific Posts: 292 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yep Bright I saw it from west coast in Venice Fl when I uded to live there.