Tom Melly wrote:
> 
> "Francois Labreque" <fla### [at] videotronca> wrote in message
> news:3ABB4504.7408B169@videotron.ca...
> >
> > They are shockwaves that occur when the gases coming out of the
> > thrusters go from being supersonic to sub-sonic.  Any decent picture of
> > the Space-shuttle taking off also has them.
> >
> 
> Hah! I don't remember ever seeing the effect, but if I had I would have
> assumed it was some kind of lens flare effect.

http://corbis.altavista.com/referrals/av_image_details.asp?linkid=2623&imageid=10090201

However, It's not the best picture.  The next time you see a documentary
of the Challenger blow-up, look at the main engine ignition during the
last seconds of the countdown, it's very obvious.

-- 
Francois Labreque | The surest sign of the existence of extra-
    flabreque     | terrestrial intelligence is that they never
        @         | bothered to come down here and visit us!
  videotron.ca    |                             - Calvin

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