Here’s some amazing footage from the launch of the Solar Dynamics Observatory last week (via an Atlas V) from Kennedy Space Center. While I find any launch to be amazing viewing, mega-awesomeness begins at around 1:52 – the sky ripples when the acoustic shockwaves from the rocket travel through a ‘sun dog‘ (luminous atmospheric phenonemon caused by the sun refracting through ice crystals):
In case anyone is worried about the footage being doctored, there is corroborating testimony as well as still imagery.
