SpaceX Falcon 9 over Downtown Los Angeles

October 7th 2018, exactly 4 years ago today, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. I captured this timelapse of the launch from City Terasse in Los Angeles. You can clearly see Downtown LA in the foreground!

I used a 1” interval which means the total duration of the entire launch is about 7 to 8 minutes. You’ve probably seen this timelapse online as it has been shared all over social media for the last 4 years. Even today, the timelapse is still being heavily shared by different space accounts and bring me new followers (if they tag me properly). Sure is the timelapse that changed everything!

The launch took place about 45min after the sunset which was the perfect time of the day to create what we call a Twiligh Phenomenon. A twilight phenomenon is produced when exhaust particles from missile or rocket propellant left in the vapor trail of a launch vehicle condense, freeze, and then expand in the less dense upper atmosphere. The exhaust plume, which is suspended against a dark sky, is then illuminated by reflective high-altitude sunlight through dispersion, which produces a spectacular, colorful effect when seen at ground level.

[pauljefferies]

That rocket is amazing. What expansion in a vacuum.

[dannyj]

Saw this from New Mexico the other night had me convinced we were being invaded 🤣🤣

[clarencebeeks]

This is a launch into 'twilight' Just before sunrise or right after
sunset, the exhaust and gasses reflect the sunlight that is still
passing overhead.
The booster makes pulsing effects from the cold gas thrusters.

[zaphodsrealm]

that is so cool but would have scared me if I didn't know what it was!

[otireqs]

Amazing what humans can do from the rocket to the filming equipment and the footage

[HereForLaughsAndLearns]

Amazing footage. You can see the booster doing a boost-back burn after stage separation

[Crunch_dGH]

Oct 7, 2018 F9 VSFB Timelapse. Look for the stage 1 boost back burn at the top right of the “jellyfish”.

[whatsbefore]

The stage separation is very colourful 🥰

[dickbuffman]

So badass!!! Never got to see this dawn/dusk phenomenon while I was in FL and could see the launches from my back porch. Smh

[SpaceTalk-Aero]

Wow that plume expansion is incredible

[SingleStepStudios]

Wow you can even see the rocket fairing sections falling in the center of the screen

[luiscarlossaldivarjaquez]

todo un espectaculo lo vimos en cuencame durango increible

[trevorquinnell]

Why does it do these colours and explosion?

[krzysztofpatek]

Are these colors in the sky real or the shot is enhanced for a better look?

[ggCA]

I remember we saw one jn Norcal and no one knew wat it was😭😭

[SndIt]

Why didn't old rocket launches back in the day look like this 🤔 not until space x started launching

[Oreo_Edit]

I thought the world was going to end😂😂

[tomm.]

I see why Elon calls it Space Sex, what a load that

[jad.]

Wtf when was that? And will there be another?