This rare launch of the Air Force Research LabTacSat-3 satellite on an Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket from Wallops Island, Virginia had rocket enthusiasts up and down the east coast waiting to see if they could see any sign of it. I went out to my dark sky spot in Marlborough about 10 minutes before launch, set up and watched it go up on my computer via broadband on NASA TV at 17:54 EDT.  After about 15 minutes I gave up hope and retured home.

I then got a e-mail from my friend Bill Chellis of our astronomy club telling me that the contrails from the launch were now visable 45 minutes later. I hoped in my car, went back to the site and got this picture. The best one out of about 30 that I took about 1 hour 5 minutes after launch. Thanks Bill!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill was kind enough to send me his picture that he took of the contrails from his driveway in Beacon Falls, Connecticut at 8:38pm. That was 44 minutes after launch, and no other clouds in the sky were visable!