From Brian Webb, KD6NRP

"Here are three images of last week's Minotaur/JAWSAT launch from Vandenberg AFB. I took them from Thousand Oaks, about 100 miles southeast of the pad. "
 
 

Third stage burn of the Minotaur launch vehicle. The brown patch above the missile's trail is the remnant of a jet contrail. Stars are visible in the background.

After third stage cutoff, the launch vehicle disappeared from sight. Then a strange glow appeared which began to get brighter and larger. This image shows this strange glowing cloud, apparently caused by exhaust from the third stage cutoff rising high enough to catch sunlight. The stick in the foreground is an antenna from a cell phone site. Stars are visible in the background.

After third stage cutoff, the launch vehicle disappeared from sight. Then a strange glow appeared which began to get brighter and larger. This image shows this strange glowing cloud, apparently caused by exhaust from the third stage cutoff rising high enough to catch sunlight. The stick in the foreground is an antenna from a cell phone site. Stars are visible in the background.