Club member Drew Maser took these pictures with his Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi SLR camera at Coyle Field on Saturday evening, September 19, 2009. The Clear Sky Chart predicted excellent conditions, and at 6:59 pm EDT, the sun was observed slipping below the quarter-degree high tree line in the west. Click the pictures for larger versions.

At 7:15 pm, there were some nice crepuscular rays from the now-invisible sun. Exposed 1/60 sec at f/4, ISO 400, 17 mm focal length.

At 7:46 pm, Drew captured the launch of the Black Brant XII sounding rocket from NASA's Wallops Island, VA, facility. The rocket was delivering an artificial cloud to the upper atmosphere as part of a scientific study of noctilucent clouds. Exposed 8 sec at f/4, ISO 400, 70 mm focal length.

At 7:51 pm, the cloud is released from the fourth stage. Exposed 3 sec at f/4, ISO 400, 70 mm focal length.

At 7:52 pm, the cloud faded quickly. Exposed 6 sec at f/4, ISO 400, 70 mm focal length.

7:52 pm, the cloud is now quite faint (so the brightness has been enhanced somewhat). Note the dropping "embers" from the initial burst. Exposed 8 sec at f/4, ISO 400, 70 mm focal length.