What could this be?

[groberts]

Whilst visiting my daughter in Somerset at the weekend the sky was fantastically clear and dark (compared to my home in Surrey close to Gatwick!), so I thought I’d try to see if I could image any Perseids that might still be around using a basic DSLR on a tripod and intervalometer.

Despite excellent seeing conditions, the air was cool’ish and therefore prone to forming dew on the camera lens after just 20 minutes or so. At the time it didn’t seem as though I had captured anything of interest, however, looking at the images again I am intrigued by a white flash that appears between two pictures just 30 seconds apart – what could this be, it seems too short to be a Perseid?  Whatever it is was gone in the next image 5 seconds later.

Notes: The pictures were taken at 10.37pm on 16^th August, looking approximately north east, probably at about >60^o elevation using a Canon EOS 700D + 18-55 lens, set at 18mm and f5.6. Both images are 30 secs exposures at ISO 1,600 with an interval of 5-seconds between pictures.  I have indicated the area of interest top-left with a red ring in the first image, with the white ‘object’ appearing in the following image.

 

[Tinker1947]

It could be a piece of space junk reflecting the sun as it tumble though its orbit.........

[Knight of Clear Skies]

It's slightly elongated from left to right and shows a pattern of brightening and fading. I agree with Tinker that it could well be a satellite or bit of junk catching a reflection as it rotates on the way past.

[groberts]

Thanks, agree that there seems to be a slight left to right elongation, indicating possible movement but perhaps not enough to signify a satellite or junk given its a 30 sec exposure.

I was hoping for at least a Super Nova!

[Knight of Clear Skies]

One thing to bear in mind is that it might become effectively invisible as it rotates away, so the length of the trail may not indicate its full range of motion over the 30 second exposure.

[Alien 13]

I am pretty sure its a tumbling satelite I caught one that took about 30 seconds to cover the frame with a 200mm lens so it would be a shorter streak with a lens at 18mm.

Alan

[Knight of Clear Skies]

Nice illustration above. I've seen this sort of thing a few times, satellites that regularly brighten and dim as they tumble.