Yesterday evening, Space X launched a pair of satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Throughout the day, we saw posts and news stories about how to see the vapor stream, if we looked to the Southeast. So at 6pm, we popped dinner in the oven and traipsed outside to see for ourselves.
News outlets were reporting 6:07pm for liftoff, but when I pulled up the livestream online, it showed a countdown to 6:13pm. Thankfully yesterday’s weather was glorious, so standing around a few extra minutes wasn’t punishment at all.
The other things the news outlets had wrong was the direction. The flare/stream we were able to see started due South and traveled East as we watched. Thankfully it was a quick fix to pivot our gaze, following a tip from my mom.
The pictures below track the view across our sky, until it disappeared behind the trees. We could even see the actual launch plume, which was completely unexpected – and completely awesome.
I have always been something of a “space nut,” and have tried to see other launches before. When they launch in Virginia, they’re too low on the horizon for us to see, but that Florida launch worked out perfectly. It’s amazing to me the science and engineering required to A: make something that can even launch and orbit, and B: accurately predict where it will go {so others can see}.
Have you ever been able to see a launch? Or any other cool space-y sighting?
I’ve never gotten to witness one in real life, only via video. I still remember the live footage of the last Shuttle launch and landing, though.
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It’s so incredible we’re able to watch so much, in live-time.
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Wow, how fun! I’ve only ever seen launches on TV.
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I think this is definitely the best one I’ve ever been able to see – even if it was from 4 states away! 🙂
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it’s cool that you got to see that. I don’t have anything like that around here when I was a kid I had a telescope but I could really only see the stars and moon.
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Jealous of your telescope! 🙂 I took astronomy as my science in college, and fell in love with the campus observatory/giant telescope, haha
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Its fantastic that you got to see this in person. How wonderful. I haven’t ever seen anything like it but I’d love to see a meteor shower. I know there’s a yearly one but I think I’d have to convince someone to go somewhere dark with me as there’s too many lights in the area 😂
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Oh man, meteor showers are some of my favorite skywatching! We’re in an area where we get several chances a year – there’s actually one peaking this weekend, but the moon will be full Wednesday {and they’re calling for much rain in the days ahead}, so … we do run into that a lot, lol. It definitely helps to be in darker skies, but totally worth the effort {take cocoa!} – I hope you’re able to see one!! 🙂 ❤
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I’m not surprised as they sound like a magnificent sight to catch. Aww well I hope despite those circumstances that you get to catch a glimpse of it at least then 🤞 thanks for the tip. I’ll let you know if I manage to see one.
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Those pics are incredible. I wish I could see the launch like that.
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It was so very awesome 😀 everything worked out just right for viewing this time!
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