Rocket launch (Page 2): Check the launch time for the Falcon Heavy and moon rise on 12/29 on Floridas’s east coast to see if both coincided…if it was the 29th launch…Cheers...

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

hj wrote:

Is this photographically possible to have the rocket and moon in sharp focus with one shutter click, or is it an overlay with two pics?

Check the launch time for the Falcon Heavy and moon rise on 12/29 on Floridas’s east coast to see if both coincided…if it was the 29th launch…Cheers

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Blaster34 wrote:

Check the launch time for the Falcon Heavy and moon rise on 12/29 on Floridas’s east coast to see if both coincided…if it was the 29th launch…Cheers

Launch at 8:07 pm, moonrise 6:39 pm so that works. But, what was the weather?
Photo pills to get close to the that is view desired, then visually line up while rocket is waiting go ahead. If photog has witnessed numerous pad 39-a launches this gets a little easier.
Shoot video and extract desired image. Possible? yes. Probable? Above my pay grade!

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

BassmanBruce wrote:

Launch at 8:07 pm, moonrise 6:39 pm so that works. But, what was the weather?
Photo pills to get close to the that is view desired, then visually line up while rocket is waiting go ahead. If photog has witnessed numerous pad 39-a launches this gets a little easier.
Shoot video and extract desired image. Possible? yes. Probable? Above my pay grade!

Weather would have to be mostly clear for a launch. The illumination of the moon looks pretty much correct for two days past full. So yes...it could be real. I am a little bit suspicious, however, of the perfect match of the size of the rocket to the diameter of the moon. It's just almost too good.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

BassmanBruce wrote:

Launch at 8:07 pm, moonrise 6:39 pm so that works. But, what was the weather?
Photo pills to get close to the that is view desired, then visually line up while rocket is waiting go ahead. If photog has witnessed numerous pad 39-a launches this gets a little easier.
Shoot video and extract desired image. Possible? yes. Probable? Above my pay grade!

Agree Bruce, I live near there and watch these Falcon and other launches regularly, almost daily now...I suspect, you'd have to know the exact location of the moon rise then find a location that would allow you to line these two up (launch pad and moon azimuth) AND at the correct time...yep, concur, ABOVE my pay grade also. I guess much easier if the photographer had access to the actual site and had the freedom to move as needed...Cheers

JD750 Loc: SoCal

larryepage wrote:

Weather would have to be mostly clear for a launch. The illumination of the moon looks pretty much correct for two days past full. So yes...it could be real. I am a little bit suspicious, however, of the perfect match of the size of the rocket to the diameter of the moon. It's just almost too good.

Yep. And then there is that positioning problem, you have to be in the exact right spot, and that's difficult to plan, luck is needed.

Yes it could be, and that is the beauty of it. Properly processed composites do not look like they have been processed.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

JD750 wrote:

Yep. And then there is that positioning problem, you have to be in the exact right spot, and that's difficult to plan, luck is needed.

Planning is doable if one works at it.
Here is a UHH post from several years ago that demonstrates this:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-509811-1.html

I am finding this thread to be most enjoyable, thank you to the OP!

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Planning would be complex to day the least. You would need orbital data or angles for the trajectory and then have just one intersect point. All before the rocket became too small in the distance. Then find an accessible spot to make it all work. At these magnifications all precision would be measurd in hundredths of a degree.

fantom Loc: Colorado

JD750 wrote:

Yeah? This is entire possible for one skilled in Photoshop to achieve in a composite.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Orphoto wrote:

Planning would be complex to day the least. You would need orbital data or angles for the trajectory and then have just one intersect point. All before the rocket became too small in the distance. Then find an accessible spot to make it all work. At these magnifications all precision would be measurd in hundredths of a degree.

not to mention variables in the ascent trajectory due to things like wind for example.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

hj wrote:

Is this photographically possible to have the rocket and moon in sharp focus with one shutter click, or is it an overlay with two pics?

Yes this is entirely possible. That's not to say that Highlights, shadows and other adjustments were not done in post. I have a very similar shot from an airshow many years ago where a Blue Angel is climbing up through a full moon. I named that shot "Fly me to the Moon" so I know this is a feasible shot.

ELNikkor

Very difficult to line up, and even have access to a place to shoot from. A 300mm lens could get both in focus, then crop in. These type photos are usually just skillful composites, but if by chance the photographer really did get this in one snap, kudos to him!

GEngel-usmc Loc: Spencerport NY - I miss Lakeland, FL

SpaceX has company photographers for just this purpose at designated positions, also have dedicated $$$ cameras. Check out LabPadre’s website and forums for more info re: camera shots with Forum photographers and Great launch/landing photos on sites. That’s where I saw a photo just like this, supposedly not a composite. Prints available on the sites. Just my FYI.

Klickitatdave Loc: Seattle Washington

Orphoto wrote:

Planning would be complex to day the least. You would need orbital data or angles for the trajectory and then have just one intersect point. All before the rocket became too small in the distance. Then find an accessible spot to make it all work. At these magnifications all precision would be measurd in hundredths of a degree.

Not to mention that the launch would have to go off on schedule without any delays or the experience would be disappointing. Moon without the rocket, rocket without the moon, sky without the moon or rocket. Maybe the delay would be long enough to adjust for it but still, that would have to be an exercise in demanding, last-minute, precise calculations and physical adjustments.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Klickitatdave wrote:

Not to mention that the launch would have to go off on schedule without any delays or the experience would be disappointing. Moon without the rocket, rocket without the moon, sky without the moon or rocket. Maybe the delay would be long enough to adjust for it but still, that would have to be an exercise in demanding, last-minute, precise calculations and physical adjustments.

Rocket launches are built around precise calculations and physical adjustments. I do not know any more than the rest of us guessers whether this photograph is "real" or not. But I am pretty sure that finding the right place to stand would be no particular problem for a person with the proper access and even pretty minimal resources. The destination of this launch was not announced, but the countdown established a very unambiguous "not before" time. Even a small slip would be no problem for a knowledgeable person.

Whether real or composite, this is a great picture. I prefer to optimistically believe it is "real."

neillaubenthal

JD750 wrote:

not to mention variables in the ascent trajectory due to things like wind for example.

The ascent trajectory is pretty much straight up for the first 30 seconds or so at least if you’ve watched many SpaceX launches.