Falcon 9

I went to the top of Red Mountain and shot tonight's rocket launch from Vandenberg. A two-stage Falcon 9 booster lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California tonight (Dec. 22) at 11:27 p.m. EST (8:27 p.m. local California time, 0427 on Dec. 23 GMT), lofting 10 communications satellites for the commercial Iridium Next constellation.

It was absolutely beautiful, saw all the separations.

I have only processed a couple pictures but look forward to seeing the rest and think I have learned enough to do a better job if I am fortunate enough to shoot it again.

For these pictures I used my Nikon D7200 with my Sigma 150-600mm C lens. I was shooting at iso 2500 which was probably not enough. Manual focus which may not have been the way to go either. In dark sky I pre focussed on the moon. The camera was mounted on my wimberly and tripod.

cosmic halo

Phoenix's tail