I am not certain, but reasonably sure, that I am seeing a meteor trail next to the comet here. Not some sort of artifact. Is that right?
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A meteor trail?
Sun, 2019-12-01 20:00
#1
A meteor trail?
Possibly. It could have been an aircraft I suppose but the faint residual image in the next frame looks like a decaying train.
Lucky catch!, Certainly does look like a faint wind distorted train in the second field.
So I'm going to say, probably... ; - )
What was the scope/camera (pixels and pix size)/exposure you used? Could you send me the raw frame of the second shot?
Just curious to see if I can make some measurements....
cheers,
Bill
Yes, of course. I'll prep the bias/dark/flat calibrated FITS for you. I have been experimenting with higher gain, so the dynamic range is terrible though! Just post if there's any other info you need. Suffice it to say, I have decided 180 gain with the Hyperstar / ASI178MM config is not a good idea.
Ignore some of the mess ASIcap has put into the FITS header. I usually acquire using Maxim, but I was experimenting with camera settings last night, and it is much easier in ASIcap. Mono sensor ASI178MM. 2.4um pix, 1.26"px. FL 392mm. C8 Hyperstar. Sub exp = 20s.
?Meteor
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Agvxu8wNOxpAgQiU7zZ-xLYBmUDN?e=4iTdAI
?Trail
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Agvxu8wNOxpAgQdiYPPxno7v10T8?e=Y9xjyv
Thanks!
Bill.
An awful lot of variables so strictly "order of magnitude" (the physicists get out of jail free card!) number...
The column diameter of the train is ~ 30 to 50m. Remarkable to consider that the meteoroid itself might only have been a couple of mm in diameter. The atoms evaporate off at a few km/sec but bump into the atmospheric atoms after a few free path lengths, a few metres then diffuse into the atmosphere over however long depending on size, mass, density, composition, velocity etc etc.
Most of those we have little or no idea about...!
Cheers,
Bill.
Thanks Bill. Saw a nice meteor - probably sporadic - last night while setting up the scope late evening. Came from northern part of UMa.