A 3-second exposure of the first (reusable) stage of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as seen from Beacon's Beach in Encinitas, California, on December 4, 2024..

This is what appears to be the first (reusable) stage of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched during Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 7:05 p.m. local California time. This object was photographed from Beacon's Beach in Encinitas (218 miles or 350 km away) about 14 min after the launch. It was moving fast over the moon and Venus (paired just 2 degrees apart - see a separate photo), creating a trail of light during 3-second exposure. Although mesmerizing for onlookers, these man-made objects sometimes get in the way for astronomers and stargazers.

Nikon D810, Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art Lens, f 2.8, exposure 3 s, ISO 800.

Shot in RAW. Cropped, exposure and contrast adjusted, denoised and sharpened.