I too watched countdown, ignition and liftoff of the Atlas V on NASA TV. Then I went outside and picked it up through binoculars from here south of Orlando. Was able to follow all the way to MECO. I went back inside and followed along to second stage stage cutoff.

Then While watching a number of replays of ignition and liftoff I noticed what seemed to me to be an anomaly. There was what looked to me to be a large, very yellow hydrogen rich fire that billowed up around the sides of the vehicle. Also, as it lifted off of the pad, it appeared to me like perhaps 25 percent of of the aft end was blackened with soot. Maybe it was just the lighting or viewing angle but did anyone else notice this?

Tom C