What you're looking at is the second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket headed to orbit, and that small sliver below? Yep, that's the first stage, preparing itself to perform the first test of the ambitious SpaceX Falcon9R.

The first stage did a successful deceleration burn, but failed to reignite properly to land in the Pacific slower than normal. It's still incredible they were able to have it work at all on the first try.

This was taken when the vehicle was nearly 130 miles downrange.

CASSIOPE Launch
September 29th, 2013
Vandenberg AFB
First Falcon 9 v1.1 Flight

Shot on a Canon T2i with a Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3