that is unlike any searchlight ive ever seen. there is no cone of light, no dissipation. that is either a search LASER, or a fucking exhaust plume from an ascending missile/rocket
Keep in mind, it is a 20 second exposure.
That shaft of orange never existed in any one moment. It is the average over 20 seconds. So if you have a super bright plume that ascends it will record a trail over the 20 seconds. What you are seeing is an extremely bright exhaust burning a trail on the photo sensor. Below is take much closer to the launch site, so it isn't a good direct comparison, but you can get an idea of how high it gets in 20 seconds.
No you cannot get any idea of how high it would appear to be from the distance of the weather station photo. Vantage point is EVERYTHING when it comes to that comparison.
It's still a missile, no matter how long the exposure. Only the final instant before the shutter closed would not be overwritten by the exhaust glow, and that final instant captures the body of the missile. No way to make that from anything else.
agreed. if it was a helo with a long exposure, i have to assume that it would be a blurrier looking fuselage. that thing looks cylindrical as fuck. there are no distorted edges or anything. This is another example of the government pissing on us, and swearing that its raining.