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Larry A. Stevens | all galleries >> ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY >> AURORAE >> 2015.06.23 > 06 June 2015 - 103.jpg
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23-JUN-2015 Larry A. Stevens

06 June 2015 - 103.jpg

Jester Park Boat Ramp, North of Des Moines, IA

A cloud is slowly moving out of the area, and is visible on the right side of the frame. Thunderstorms had recently moved out of the region and low level flashes were noticed fairly often even though they were well over the southern horizon.

Near the center of this frame was a UFO. Well, at least until the next day as many individuals had imaged the same thing. It's appearance was that of an airplane with its lights on and obscured by a thin layer of clouds, diffusing the light. It was moving toward the north and we noticed it for perhaps a minute or more and moved faster at first, and then slower, then it faded out. It is trailed slightly in this 10 sec exposure.

In fact it was identified as a VEGA rocket that was launched by the European Space Agency with a Sentinel-2A satellite on board. It was launched from the French Guyana launch site at 01:51:58 UT (8:51:58 local time). Nearly 2 hours later the 4th stage of the rocket was said to have an orbital burn, so the fuzzy circular blob of light that moved silently through the sky was the gasses from that burn. The satellite is dedicated to observing the Earth and its oceans.

Nikon D300
10s f/2.8 at 10.5mm iso1250 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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