清晨发射的阿特拉斯五型火箭

2019 August 9

Atlas at Dawn
Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Seeley

Explanation: This single, 251-second long exposure follows the early flight of an Atlas V rocket on August 8, streaking eastward toward the dawn from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, planet Earth. The launch of the United Launch Alliance rocket was at 6:13am local time. Sunrise was not until 6:48am, but the rocket’s downrange plume at altitude is brightly lit by the Sun still just below the eastern horizon. Waters of the Indian River Lagoon in Palm Shores, Forida reflect subtle colors and warming glow of the otherwise calm, predawn sky. The mighty Atlas rocket carried a military communications satellite into Earth orbit. Of course, this weekend the streaks you see in clear skies before the dawn could be Perseid Meteors.

清晨发射的阿特拉斯五型火箭
影像来源与版权: Michael Seeley

说明：这幅251秒长曝光影像，记录在8月8日早晨，一部阿特拉斯五型火箭从地球·卡那维尔角空军站发射，曳着明亮的火光掠向东方破晓的景象。这部隶属于联合飞射联盟的火箭，启程的时间是当地早上6:13am。虽然当地的日出时间是6:48am，不过这部火箭位在航程尾端的高空烟尘，因受到仍在地平面下方的太阳之照耀而熠熠生辉。而佛罗里达州棕榈海岸的印第安河泻湖之水面，则在反映日出前静谧天空中的微妙色泽和暖色辉光。当时强大的阿特拉斯五型火箭，正在推送一部美国的军事卫星前往地球轨道。这个周末在日出前的清朗天空中，可见到英仙座流星划出的流星迹。