Today we actually witnessed a rocket launch, although it was the Atlas V and not the space shuttle. It was fun to see even so. We walked to the top of a bridge for a better view. We were told by others that when the shuttle launches, the ground shakes even 8 miles away. With the Atlas, not so, although it is a sizeable rocket. The Atlas V is to be a defense satellite, part of the newest generation of the anti-missile defense system.
Here are a series of photographs, taken by Lee, of the launch. My one comment is that in the photos, the rocket flame looks white. To the naked eye, the flame was a very bright reddish orange, like fire. So the photos don't have quite the same effect, but just try to imagine it. Note also the size of the rocket - huge, and slow at lift-off!! I love the billowing white smoke (exhaust?).
As the rocket pulls away from the earth...
a plume of condensation eventually develops:
Until the rocket disappears from sight. In this last photo, the rocket is that itsy bitsy tiny white speck at the very top of the photo:
As with most things, being there is better than photographs.
Another thrill today was the sighting of a softshell turtle! It was making its way across the neighbor's yard, and we were able to get a very close-up view of it. These turtles are aquatic, but this one was moving from one pond to another. This was a good-sized one, about two feet in length. Softshell turtles are strange-looking because of the little tube-like structure at the tip of the nose, which is best seen in the last of the three photos:
William Bartram actually illustrated this turtle in his 1791 work, when he was served one by his host for dinner:
According to Bartram, these turtles are carnivorous, and eat young ducks, frogs and fish. They can extend their necks quickly and to a great length, catching their prey by surprise.
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