From Chris Eisenbarth in the Coastlands:
“Last Sunday night we were out looking at the stars when we noticed a fireball in the south. I immediately knew that this was a SpaceX launch as I had seen one a couple of years ago at 4AM. I checked the SpaceX launch schedule and for sure, it was this one, https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-12. Quite spectacular, with binoculars we could even see the huge plume from the second stage in the upper atmosphere.
Thought you might be interested in a couple of pictures I took of the rocket launch.”
By the way, Chris informed me that these photos were taken with a handheld iPhone. Pretty amazing.
That’s great photo of the launch! I hadn’t thought of being able to see such an event from the Big Sur coast. If more information about activity at Vandenberg is of interest, try this source:https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
Very cool!
Great photos! Very cool until you consider all the implications—light pollution, space junk, then again, Starlink.
Whatever happened to the car that Musk put in orbit around the moon?
I saw that out my bedroom window here in Los Osos. Thanks for this information I thought I was losing my mind
Beautiful photos! I caught site of a Vandenburg launch a few days ago from Cambria boardwalk. Mid day, clear sky from horizon up. Walking south, I spied a bright vertical stripe, watched as it rose rapidly and disappeared into ceiling cloud. Confirmed launch on Vandenburg website.
Hi Flapz, Elon Musk decided to launch his personal Tesla Roadster (the sports car built on a Lotus Elise chassis that was the first Tesla car for sale) as a demo. It went past the Moon and out as far as the orbit of Mars, but not to contact Mars, just into long orbit. Unfortunately he was not on board; it had a mannequin called “Starman”. See the Wikipedia article – search for “Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster” “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” BUT at least Elon has sense of humor. Or did then.
Flapz, and others, google got me this: https://www.govtech.com/question-of-the-day/where-is-elon-musks-car-after-5-years-in-space
AND there is an actual website tracking it if you happen to wonder again in another 5 years: https://www.whereisroadster.com/
As spectacular as it is, I’d rather see a comet!
I am also able to see Vandenberg launches from my house near Laureles Grade so I recommend Monterey County residents interested to look south during launches.
Here is a link to the launch schedule https://www.spacelaunchschedule.com/category/vandenberg-sfb/