- ESO says the Very Large Telescope in Chile observed a streak of light from a SpaceX rocket launch, visible for about 5–10 seconds.
- Carl Schmidt says the streak is most likely caused by the rocket’s exhaust; however, he added that it is not possible to determine this with certainty.
- NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter analyzed the Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter and found that the rocket’s image was recorded by the spacecraft. Material later showed that it was possible to determine how many days the rocket had been in orbit.
The telescope in Chile captured images of SpaceX’s rocket launch streaking across the moon, according to the European Southern Observatory (ESO). During the observation, the rocket’s speed was estimated at 8,690 km/h (5,400 mph).
ESO says the Very Large Telescope spotted the “streaking line” — a bright trail of light — as the rocket flew past the moon. The material also notes that the “aim” of the rocket was determined by tracking the “bright spot” for about five to ten minutes, while the exact duration of the trail was measured by the telescope.
Astronomer Carl Schmidt, who works at the Center for Space Physics at Boston University, says the streak is likely caused by the rocket’s exhaust, while the “bright spot” is likely the rocket’s engine.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse report that the rocket’s launch was observed from Earth — from the moment the rocket’s image appeared until the time it disappeared. They also report that at around 6.35am GMT, the rocket’s launch was visible as a bright streak across the sky.
According to the report, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter also captured images of the rocket’s launch. The material adds that the exact time of the rocket’s flight was determined by analyzing the data.
In addition, the report notes that the launch was not visible from the ground in some areas of the world, as only the moon’s position made it possible to observe the rocket’s image. The material concludes that the rocket’s exhaust and the engine’s glow could be detected by the telescope and by the lunar orbiters.