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Meteor ?

jeffstclair
Posted 15/08/2012 - 21:10 Link
Is this a meteor ? I saw so many over last weekend I don't know any more ..jeffComment Image
steven9761
Posted 15/08/2012 - 21:22 Link
If it isn't, you've got a bloody-great scratch on your lens, Jeff!!
pentaxian450
Posted 16/08/2012 - 00:49 Link
The Perseides?:::
Yves (another one of those crazy Canucks)
jeffstclair
Posted 16/08/2012 - 09:16 Link
Yes Yves , that was what I hoped .
I spent a fantastic time over the week end up on the bluff behind my house watching the Meteor shower and trying very unsuccessfully to get some on the K100.
Thirty second exposure ,wide open , kit lens at 18 mm the widest lens I have .
the problem was the poor old k100 takes 30 seconds to write a 30 second exposure to the card ! so you miss so much... and spend all your time fiddling with the kit and missing the show. I think the answer is a wider lens and two cameras so you can cover more sky . your thoughts are welcome .... jeff....
mikeyscope
Posted 18/08/2012 - 15:57 Link
Hi Jeff
Sadly this looks like the partial trail of a high altitude aircraft with regular flashes of the fuselage/wing beacon lights during the exposure.
Iridium communication satellites can also look like meteor trails ...they leave elliptical shaped trails over a few seconds.
A true meteor trail usually leaves a spear shaped trail with the thicker, brighter end pointing in the direction of travel.

Was out myself too but both bright meteors just happened before & after firing the shutter.....grrrrr.

Don't give up Jeff, there's other meteor showers before end of year.

Mike
aliengrove
Posted 18/08/2012 - 16:37 Link
Looks like a contrail to me too, as mentioned you can see the strobes at regular intervals.
jeffstclair
Posted 18/08/2012 - 17:32 Link
Yes that is what I thought , and then Yves made me hopeful . I bet you got a good show up in Scotland , what sort of setting and kit are were you using Mike ? and alien were you able to catch any from you airborne vantage point .... jeff...
mikeyscope
Posted 18/08/2012 - 18:15 Link
Jeff
Currently on caravan holiday south of Carlisle throughout the past week so was just shooting from here. Had intended to go up on the moors on way to Keswick but with showers threatening I decided not.

Was using the K5 with 12-24mm lens wide open, 30sec exposures maximum as didn't want too much star trailing, also testing a Sigma 12-24mm f4.5-f5.6 EX DG lens, a bit slow wide open for meteors but will test properly on equatorial drive for general wide field astroimaging when I get back home.

Mike
greynolds999
Posted 18/08/2012 - 19:32 Link
Definitely aliens.

Whether it's Kang and Kodos, Alf or ET I can't tell.
bettyswolloks
Posted 18/08/2012 - 20:01 Link
Mork?
One day you'll find, 10yrs have got behind you.
jeffstclair
Posted 18/08/2012 - 21:07 Link
Ah mike the magic of the Solway Firth I know it well ,lived in Lancaster for 20 years before I moved to Crete . you should hook up with jules on this forum he lives in Carlisle ... jeff...
mikeyscope
Posted 18/08/2012 - 21:44 Link
Ah well....sadly off home tomorrow though
JamieT
Posted 19/08/2012 - 11:46 Link
Possibly the International Space Station (ISS). It has been passing over the last week or so around 9-10pm. That would explain the interval flashing. You should be able to check the time of the photo on this website (or many others) to confirm;

link
K5, LTD 15 SIG 30, SIG 105.
Edited by JamieT: 19/08/2012 - 11:47
aliengrove
Posted 19/08/2012 - 13:10 Link
The ISS does not have strobes on it.....I don't think its deemed a hazard to aviation.....

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