Jump to content

Narrowband

STAR VANISHES IN ORION IF COMPARED IN TWO PHOTOS


Pankaj

Recommended Posts

Hi All. 

I took a photograph of the Orion Nebula using my Orion ST 80A Achromatic Refractor on 15th Nov 2015. Though the photo seemed a bit out of focus, but the result encouraged me to again go in for a session from the same location again on 9th Dec 2015 using the same equipment. Camera was unmodded Canon 1200D fitted at prime focus with the scope that was mounted on a NEQ6 on both occasions.

Today I was comparing the two photos and judging the location of each star. Doing so, I across a star that was present on the photo on 15th Nov 2015, but was not present in the photo taken on 9th Dec 2015.

Can someone explain the possible reasons for this. Attached are the two photos for reference.

post-38054-0-11082800-1449919868.jpgpost-38054-0-21574500-1449919893.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 28
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Using stellarium to go back and look at those nights I'm seeing that Orion is right in the path of any number of satellites streaming through, it could be one of them or a geo synchronous satellite even, I think there are a few in that area.

Just a guess, I can't say for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well spotted. Here's a deeper view of the same region from last year. It took me a while to match up the stars but I can't see anything there, so I think it's unlikely to be a variable star.

20156584654_65a50260e5_b.jpg

As others say an asteroid or geosynchronous satellite are real possibilities. If anyone else has any images around these dates to share it might be possible to get a better idea by seeing if it moves or varies in brightness, would be fun to see if we can pin this down. It appears very close in brightness to the two adjacent stars so checking them should give a decent magnitude estimate.

I'd be surprised if it's a nova, and I think a supernova can be ruled out due to the amount of dust in the area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have no knowledge of this asteroid. But great work indeed Stu. please make doubly sure that its the asteriod only. Can your software also show when this asteroid will be next in this position ?

The next time it is in the Orion area seems to be in 2021!

3f5a4fab79a9bd61fedde324f6cad78e.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@ Stu - 2021 !! Man that is pretty long time. 

This means that in any photograph taken 2-5 years before 15th Nov 2015, should not have this spec of light in this particular location. 

I would suggest everyone to please look for this in photographs taken between Nov 2011 to Nov 2015. Do you think I am right on the calculation Stu ?

Thanks

Pankaj

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice work, keep looking, you never know you might discover a new object like this!  I have a question, I am looking to get a DSLR for christmas.  We want to take this on a holiday to Sri Lanka, but also to double up as an AP camera.  How would you rate the 1200D for that purpose?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice work, keep looking, you never know you might discover a new object like this!  I have a question, I am looking to get a DSLR for christmas.  We want to take this on a holiday to Sri Lanka, but also to double up as an AP camera.  How would you rate the 1200D for that purpose?

I find 1200D to be very comfortable. Its an 18MP camera. You can also look at the next version which has a 24mp sensor. For me, 1200D is sufficient for next 2-3 years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I find 1200D to be very comfortable. Its an 18MP camera. You can also look at the next version which has a 24mp sensor. For me, 1200D is sufficient for next 2-3 years.

This sounds like far too many pixels to me (for anythng but a very short FL). Having undersized pixels is a disadvantage once they give a resolution which falls below what the seeing and guiding will allow - and this soon happens. High pixel counts may be good in the daytime but in AP they should be matched sensibly to the focal length.

Fascinating find by the OP and Stu. Great stuff.

Olly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I find 1200D to be very comfortable. Its an 18MP camera. You can also look at the next version which has a 24mp sensor. For me, 1200D is sufficient for next 2-3 years.

Do you realize that you are talking Astro Photography here not daytime snapping. My Atik 314L+ has a sensor of 1.4 MP, and it is still going strong. What on earth makes you think that you need 24 MP for any reason? Before you answer this let me tell you that I was and still am a Technical Photographer for the last 30 years so I do know a thing or two about photography. Use what ever is at your disposal but forget the MP measure of a camera as a yard stick for quality, that one comes from you. For your information the size of the sensor on the deep space camera  of the Hubble Scope Telescope is 800 X 800 pixels square. Now that is food for thought isn't it?

Kind Regards,

A.G

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you realize that you are talking Astro Photography here not daytime snapping. My Atik 314L+ has a sensor of 1.4 MP, and it is still going strong. What on earth makes you think that you need 24 MP for any reason? Before you answer this let me tell you that I was and still am a Technical Photographer for the last 30 years so I do know a thing or two about photography. Use what ever is at your disposal but forget the MP measure of a camera as a yard stick for quality, that one comes from you. For your information the size of the sensor on the deep space camera  of the Hubble Scope Telescope is 800 X 800 pixels square. Now that is food for thought isn't it?

Kind Regards,

A.G

Hi AG

I am just learning AP after 18 years of visual observation. Started AP with the existing camera that I had and found that its quite ok for photographing most of the celestial objects. Earlier I use to sketch while visually observing. AP with the currnt camera has been rewarding in terms of saving time and having more accurate information on hand. I will certainly graduate to more sophisticated cameras in future. By the way, is there a thimb rule, or set calculative method for selecting a MP for the next camera that I should buy ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.