Delta IV

I drove out to Port Canaveral to watch the Delta IV rocket launch on November 21, 2010. With the weather, I really didn't think it was going to go, but it did indeed launch. The rocket wasn't in view for long before disappearing into clouds, but it was still very nice. It really is thrilling to watch these incredible feats of engineering fly, especially as close as I was (7 miles). I also think I found a new favorite spot to watch the launches!

STS-131

Space Shuttle Discovery launched at 6:21am on April 5, 2010. It was definitely one of the coolest launches I've ever seen in a while. The shuttle formed a noctilucent cloud in it's contrail, then about 3.5 minutes in, it did this cool thing where what could be described as a wake or an aura formed around the shuttle as it started to dip below the horizon. At about 5 minutes, the sound waves finally hit and a faint rumbling could be heard...

Only three more launches of this awesomeness!

SDO, Sonic Booms, & Sun Dogs...

On February 11, 2010, the Solar Dynamics Observatory launched on an Atlas V Rocket. I attepted to watch the launch from my front yard, but there were too many clouds between where I was and the coast to get a good view. I was able to see the rocket for about five seconds through a hole in the clouds, but that was about it.

Being closer to the launch apparently provided an awesome show. Turn the video to 720p and turn on full screen. Wait until about two minutes in when the rocket is about to pass through the sun dog, and then the rocket goes supersonic while passing through the ice particles in the air. I've never seen anything quite like this!

Ares I-X

Possible shuttle replacement? I hope so!

STS-128

Space Shuttle Discovery launch as seen from Titusville!

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-119)

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS 119) launched on March 15, 2009 at 7:43 pm. I drove out to Titusville, FL to watch the launch, and it is very nice to be able to hear the noise that the shuttle makes.





As it got darker, the contrail left by the shuttle started glowing with wonderful colors from the setting sun. Of course, these could have something to do with all of the nasty chemicals that the shuttle spews out in that smoke refracting the light, but it was still nice to look at. In contrast with Titusville's older buildings, this could have provided some great pictures, but I'm not entirely happy with how they came out.



Here's a video of the launch.

Kepler Telescope Launch on a Delta II Rocket

The Kepler Telescope launched on a Delta II rocket at 10:49 pm on March 7, 2009. Kepler sounds like a very interesting project, and lets hope it finds plenty of earth-like planets. You can read more about it on NASA's website.

I think I'll go turn on my SETI@home software now and leave you with these two fifteen second exposures of the launch:

Delta 4 Rocket Launch (January 17, 2009)

A Delta 4 Rocket launched on January 17, 2009 from Cape Canaveral. I tried taking some pictures/video of the launch, but didn't have much luck. Insead, check out this video of the launch from Spacevidcast on Youtube:

Brightest Full Moon of the Year

This is the full moon as seen from Longwood, FL on December 11, 2008. Tonight's full moon was predicted to be the brightest full moon of 2008.

Venus & Jupiter

This is a picture of Venus and Jupiter at dusk in Deltona, FL on November 29, 2008. On December 1, the two planets will be joined by a crescent moon...

Space Shuttle Endeavour

On November 14, 2008, the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-126) launched into orbit to meet up with the International Space Station. With the Shuttle being retired in 2010, the number of future shuttle launches is well into the single digits. In fact, tonight's launch was the last shuttle launch that is scheduled to occur after dark. It's kind of sad, since night launches are the best type to watch...

Starry Night

The stars over Longwood, FL...

Skydiving Shuttle...

A few days ago I posted a very unique perspective of a rocket launching (I said Space Shuttle at the time, but it may be a Delta Rocket instead) as seen from an airplane. Today I came across this video of a skydiver filming the STS-117 Atlantis launch. Not quite as high as the airplane was flying, but still very cool.

Space Shuttle Launch from Above...

I came across this very cool video of a Space Shuttle Launch filmed from an airplane. The cameraman is a bit overexcited though...

Space Shuttle Discovery- STS 124

The Space Shuttle Discovery launched into space from Kennedy Space Center on May 31, 2008 at 5:02 pm. It's job is to deliver and install Japan's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station. Where I viewed the launch, there were some low clouds that blocked the view of the shuttle for a few seconds, but beyond that there were clear skies. It was even clear enough to see the boosters separate from the shuttle!

Here is a video of the launch that I filmed. A little shaky in the beginning, but it soon improves:


Of course, NASA TV always has some impressive videos of the launch that end up on Youtube. Like their video of the launch:

Or their video of the shuttle's external fuel tank falling below the shuttle:


Only seven shuttle launches left, then nothing until the Orion program starts in 2014(if it happens)...

Green-Glowing Sky

After an afternoon rainstorm in Florida, on rare occasions the sky turns a greenish-yellow color and everything has a very strange glow for a while, normally until the sun sets. These pictures are from one of these occasions...





Oak trees against the strange colored sky...




These is one of the last grapefruits of the season, almost the same color as the sky...

Sunset over Lake Jessup

These photos were taken on March 29, 2008 from Central Winds Park in Winter Springs, Florida at dusk. There was a very nice sunset over Lake Jessup...

Over a football field in Central Winds Park...

Space Shuttle Camera

Cool first person perspective video of the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS 123) launching last week...

Space Shuttle Launch

Space Shuttle Endeavour is having a night launch early Tuesday morning. That means stay up late Monday night to watch it!

Endeavour Launch







It turned out to be cloudy, so I couldn't see the launch.
:-(

Lunar Eclipse: February 20, 2008

On February 20, 2008, in Florida as well as many other parts of the world there was a total lunar eclipse. The eclipse started at 8:43 pm and was initially covered by clouds where I was watching. By the time the moon was totally covered by the shadow of the earth at 10:01 pm, the sky was clear providing an excellent view. The moon turned a nice red color in the shadow, and soon enough the earth's shadow began to recede. A little after midnight, the full moon was free from shadow and back to it's normal self!

Here are some pictures I took of the eclipse:

I took some video of the eclipse by leaving my video camera on a tripod with it's full exposure open and auto-focus turned off. I took two segments of footage, one between 9:45 and 10:15 when the moon was approaching it's full eclipse and another segment between 11:45 and 12:15 as the moon returned to normal.

It's amazing how fast the earth and the moon move in relation to one another when you are trying to track the moon with a stationary object. Every time you see the moon drift off of the picture in the videos is not due to the camera moving. The videos were sped up to 3 times their original speed.

Feb 20, 2008- 9:45pm-10:15pm


Feb 20, 2008- 11:45pm-12:15pm


The next one comes in 2010!