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On January 21, 2022, satellite expert Kevin Fetter alerted the community that a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V launch would produce a luminous cloud in space, during the rocket fuel dump. The effect would look like a small “comet" dissipating and expanding in the sky. The event is described here:


I was able to find the satellite and view the event from near my home in Orleans (Ontario), despite all the light pollution and the -28C cold! I used a Canon 6D and a 70-200mm lens to create the following time lapses. The stars are moving because I wasn't tracking. But the satellite appears to be in a geosynchronous, as it pretty much stays in the same part of the sky. As such, it appears fixed on the images.

The first time lapse is a short sequence of 15 two seconds exposures taken in 1 minute, with the lens set at 70mm. ISO3200. This was shortly after the dump occurred. The compact cloud is visible near the bottom right side, and Orion is on the left side:



The second time lapse is a longer sequence of 78 two seconds exposures taken in about 25 minutes, with the lens set at 200mm. ISO3200. It shows the expanding cloud and the faint satellite moving away from it:



I thought that was pretty neat to see, even with my frozen fingers! :)

Clear skies,

Pierre Martin
Ottawa, Ontario

Cool!