Observation by Alan C Tough: Landsat 9 - Atlas V - Centaur Upper Stag...

Uploaded by

Alan C Tough

Observer

Alan C Tough

Observed

2021 Sep 27 - 21:15

Uploaded

2021 Sep 28 - 19:56

Objects

Spacecraft

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Constellation

Leo Minor

Field centre

RA: 10^h30^m
Dec: +39°03'
Position angle: +6°37'

Field size

20° × 21°

Equipment

Canon EOS 40D DSLR
Sigma EX DG 24-60mm lens
Manfrotto befree tripod

Exposure

5 seconds @ f/2.8, ISO-1250

Location

Elgin, Moray, Scotland

Target name

Rocket

Title

Landsat 9 - Atlas V - Centaur Upper Stage - Deorbit Burn

About this image

I had just finished taking some test photos to see if there were any northern lights visible when I spotted this bright comet-like object moving slowly through the sky. At first I thought it was something to do with the military exercise that's currently taking place over the Moray Firth. When I saw reports of sightings in other parts of the UK I soon realised that this must be the rocket that was used to launch the Landsat 9 satellite into Earth orbit.

And the aurora? It didn't make an appearance!

Files associated with this observation

Rocket_20210927_actough.jpg (1.1 MB)

Like this image

Nick James, Ron Arbour, Geof Lewis, David Basey, Nik Szymanek, Grant Privett, Chris Dole, Mike Harlow, Paul Whitmarsh

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