Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                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.

                        Watch: Perseid Meteor Shower
                    Tomorrow's picture: Orion on a plate
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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