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"This was a way awesome event!" I had no idea what a sight this launch was going to be. It's the first launch from Vandenberg AFB in California I've seen and I just didn't know what to expect. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to see the lower launch trail which was surprisingly bright, then it disappeared for a couple of seconds and then the second stage lit up. After the rocket was lost to sight, the plume from the second stage quickly grew to a very large diffuse glow that filled the sky from the horizon to about 15 degrees up and about 25 or more degrees wide with a brighter streak through the middle where the rocket had passed. As more time passed, the plume from the 1st stage evolved into a giant growing corkscrew that lasted longer than I expected and was still a great object to photograph after it was barely visible my eyes. The bottom photograph seen above is the last of the plume at the location where the engine was shut down. It was visible as a slightly blue glow to the right of Venus which is the very bright short streak near the left edge of the photograph.
Photographer: Rick Scott
Date: September 22, 2005
Camera: Canon EOS 20D digital camera
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
Exposure (top): 8 seconds at f/4, 70mm focal length
Exposure (middle): 13 seconds at f/4, 170mm focal length
Exposure (bottom): 30 seconds at f/4, 70mm focal length
Camera Mode: ISO 100 RAW
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS2 for RAW conversion and image processing
Updated: 25 September 2005