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."