11 replies to this topic

[Bortle 10]

Hi everyone, I captured something that I cannot identify myself. Maybe one of you can?
I took 3 minute exposures and the anomaly is in 3 of my photo's, so I doubt it's a satellite or a plane.
The date on the photo's are 2025-03-17 ranging from 23:07:06 to 23:14:09.
 
The calibrated xisf files can be downloaded here.

So if you look at the attached file, it's the streak that I'm curious about.
 
Thanks in advance
Edwin

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by Bortle 10, 22 March 2025 - 06:23 AM.

[Dynan]

Satellite. No alternating lights of a jet.

[emflocater]

I believe what caught is the Etch A Sketch Constellation!

 

Cheers

Don 

[Bortle 10]

Satellite. No alternating lights of a jet.

I've not seen a satellite that took 9-10 mins to move through the camera view. Also cannot see it in Stellarium.

[deSitter]

I've not seen a satellite that took 9-10 mins to move through the camera view. Also cannot see it in Stellarium.

How do you know how long it took?

 

-drl

[kathyastro]

It is not a plane because of the slow movement and the lack of strobes or wingtip lights.  It is too bright to be an asteroid.  It is way, way, way too slow and too steady to be a meteor.  It is unquestionably a satellite.  

 

The slow movement indicates a geosynchronous or other very high orbit.  The orbit is not geostationary, as that would be at or near the celestial equator.  Your images are at 12 degrees declination.  The satellite will move north and south in a figure-eight pattern most likely centred on one longitude.

[Bortle 10]

How do you know how long it took?
 
-drl

Because I took 3 photo's of 3 mins exposure each and the object is in all 3 images.

[Bortle 10]

The slow movement indicates a geosynchronous or other very high orbit.  The orbit is not geostationary, as that would be at or near the celestial equator.  Your images are at 12 degrees declination.  The satellite will move north and south in a figure-eight pattern most likely centred on one longitude.

Hmmm interesting. Thank you.

[TayM57]

Agree with Kathyastro

[RTLR 12]

“Can someone identify what I shot”

I shot an elephant in my pajamas once…

Stan

[csrlice12]

Looks like J R Ewing....

[ChristianG]

Looks like J R Ewing....

J. R. Ewing... Or Major Tony Nelson? He was an astronaut...