A winter storm began approaching on Tuesday, 7 January 2025, bringing cloudy skies with it. Due to forecast rain and snow, I put the Dome Cover ON. Wednesday, 8 January, was cloudy and windy with some brief snow flurries. Thursday, 9 January, was still partly cloudy at night so I did not open the observatory.

Thursday night, 3+ hours after sunset, there was a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff was at 2053 MST. I faintly saw the 2nd stage beginning at 2058 MST and began taking iPhone 15 Pro Max photos using the Camera app (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 2X lens, handheld). There was a bright Moon in the eastern sky. All photos slightly cropped.

2nd stage rocket plume approaching Saturn and Venus


2nd stage rocket plume approaching Saturn and Venus


2nd stage rocket plume approaching Saturn and Venus


2nd stage rocket plume between Saturn and Venus


2nd stage rocket plume past Saturn and Venus

At 2100 MST I saw and began photographing the 1st stage re-entry burn (red glow approaching the distant mountains and left of Venus) using the Camera app (Night Mode, 3 seconds, 2X lens, handheld).

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