August 9, 2019
On the day you were born, another consciousness opened inside the cosmos and began taking notes.
Atlas at Dawn
Birthday · August 9, 2019
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published August 9, 2019. Credit: Michael Seeley. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
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
Image credit: Michael Seeley