APOD: Rocket Eclipse at Sunset (2024 Sep 28)

[APOD Robot]

Rocket Eclipse at Sunset

Explanation: Shockwaves ripple across the glare as a launch eclipses the setting Sun in this exciting close-up. Captured on September 17, the roaring Falcon 9 rocket carried European Galileo L13 navigation satellites to medium Earth orbit after a lift-off from Cape Canaveral on Florida's space coast. The Falcon 9 booster returned safely to Earth about 8.5 minutes later, notching the 22nd launch and landing for the reusable workhorse launch vehicle. But where did it land? Just Read the Instructions.

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[Lee]

That is so cool! The air looks like water with bubbles and ripples.

[florid_snow]

I'd like to share a piece of trivia about a tiny background detail in this photo, in the tradition of APOD commenting, haha. Do you see those wires in the middle of the frame, they look maybe like power lines? They are actually part of the Lightning Protection System which surrounds the rocket.

I always thought the 4 large towers around every launch pad were basically lightning rods, and the wires were for support, but it's just the opposite, apparently. The huge white masts on top of the towers are actually insulators (unlike a lightning rod which is a conductor). The towers connect a bunch of wires from ground farther away and suspend them in giant rectangles around the rocket. So, when there is a lightning strike and the system works properly, the current travels on these wires, not down the towers or rocket. Just a fun bit of trivia for y'all.

https://space.stackexchange.com/questio ... d-used-for