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.

                              2020 February 28

                        South Celestial Rocket Launch
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Brendan Gully

   Explanation: At sunset on December 6 a Rocket Lab Electron rocket was
   launched from a rotating planet. With multiple small satellites on
   board it departed on a mission to low Earth orbit dubbed Running Out of
   Fingers from Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand's north island. The firey
   trace of the Electron's graceful launch arc is toward the south in this
   southern sea and skyscape. Drifting vapor trails and rocket exhaust
   plumes catch the sunlight even as the sky grows dark though, the
   setting Sun still shinning at altitude along the rocket's trajectory.
   Fixed to a tripod, the camera's perspective nearly aligns the peak of
   the rocket arc with the South Celestial Pole, but no bright star marks
   that location in the southern hemisphere's evening sky. Still, it's
   easy to find at the center of the star trail arcs in the timelapse
   composite.

                         Tomorrow's picture: DOY 60
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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