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Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites, from Vandenberg SFB, California, June 18, 2024

I had heard about this launch in advance and wanted to photograph it from my patio, as we have an almost unobstructed view to the west. I set up in advance and the launch occurred at exactly 8:40 pm PT and appeared as a tiny red streak to the northwest. Then the streak became a larger white-ish streak heading south. Eventually this "fish" shape formed, and then the payload streaked to the south. In this image, a small white "something" can be seen in the exhaust, which is the first stage booster, which then flew itself to a drone ship sitting in the Pacific Ocean to the south. Amazing (although I still don't like EM - ha!).

 

From lower North Peak, Cuyamaca Mountains, San Diego County, California.

June 18, 2024

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Uploaded on June 19, 2024
Taken on June 18, 2024