[AZ-Observing] Re: NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory spacecraft launch - Visible from Phoenix?
- From: "Rick Tejera" <saguaroastro@xxxxxxx>
- To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:11:31 -0700
Wayne,
It'll be difficult if at all possible from here. Although the booster is a
solid fuel and will leave a bright trail, it'll probably only be visible for
about 200 miles or so. We're 500 as the crow flies from VBG.
If the launch was in evening twighlight, we'd have a decent shot a seeing
then upper stages as their exhaust plumes would be illuminated from behind.
See the comment from Brian Webb copied below:
LAUNCH VISIBILITY AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Since the Taurus XL rocket scheduled for launch on Tuesday will lift-off
during darkness and the vehicle uses solid fuel, the initial portions of the
event should be visible to the unaided eye for a radius of at least
200-miles (weather permitting). For information on launch viewing, go to:
http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm
For advice on photographing Tuesday's launch, go to:
http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbphoto.htm
Although this page is somewhat out of date, much of the information is still
valid. For specific Taurus XL exposure data, refer to the table titled
"Peacekeeper Time Exposure Data" (I believe the Taurus XL first stage is
actually the same as the stage that was used on the Peacekeeper).
Also from Webb:
The exact time for tomorrow morning's Taurus XL/OCO launch from Vandenberg
AFB is being reported as 01:51:30 Pacific Standard Time (09:51:30 Zulu/UTC).
The launch appears to be on schedule.
I'm thinking I'll sleep in. :)
Clear Skies
Rick Tejera
Editor SACnews,
Public Outreach Coordinator
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix, Arizona
www.saguaroastro.org
saguaroastro@xxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Wayne Westlake
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 10:37
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory spacecraft launch
- Visible from Phoenix?
At 4:51 tomorrow (Tues) morning NASA is launching the Orbiting Carbon
Observatory spacecraft from Vandenberg AFB in California.
Weather permitting, would any of the launch be visible from Phoenix?
Regards,
Wayne Westlake
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