I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people

— Sir Isaac Newton

Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Constructed the day before liftoff, I mounted 1/4 20 bolt on top of my 3" refractor to secure my son's HD video camera. My SLR was on the rear of the scope.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

The last photo of Atlantis, before leaving my stationary camera. About a minute and a half later, we hear the jet engines and 15 seconds after that, we feel the rumble. This experience was beyond words. Photo's show the event but no photo can express the true emotion I felt while watching the shuttle go out of sight. If a picture paints a thousand words, well I have several billion stashed away in my memory. Before leaving for Florida, I promised myself that I would not plant my eyes in the eyepiece of a camera.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Well on it's way.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

No sound from the craft, just the chears from the croud.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Spectacular sight.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

It clears the tower.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Overwelmed with emotion when I saw the flames.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

My first ever viewing of a flight.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

At 1 minute, I started taking a photo every 1 to 2 seconds. Then 31 seconds... my heart fell to the ground. Then, lift off.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Taking dozzens of photo's, trying to get one in focus through the haze, with my bad eyes, this was taken at 2:15 AM. I liked the over exposure, about 15 seconds.

Space Shuttle Atlantis