Christmas Eve fireball over SW UK - 03:01UT 24 Dec

[Leo S]

One of the cameras caught this sporadic fireball last night. Good timing as I'd just swapped the Sammy 24/1.4 which did not handle bright objects like fireballs in the frame at all well (strange because it seemed OK before - perhaps an element took a knock?) for a Sigma 28/1.4 Art, primarily because the cameras keep catching them relatively low down in the sky/in the distance so longer FLs should give a bit more detail!

 

[andrew63]

An early Christmas present for you! 🎄

[mcrowle]

I was out preparing to image Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) from about 2am until 3:30 on Christmas Eve and I'm quite sure I saw this fireball. It was pale green, with multiple bursts, just to the southeast of my zenith. The brightest meteor I've seen for a few years. Unfortunately I didn't note the time, but it does sound about right.

As it happened, it clouded up before E3 (ZTF) cleared the valley side where I live. In the meantime I did get some image data on M51, but it was worth being out just for that fireball! I did capture the comet two mornings later.

Regards, Mike.

Edited January 9, 2023 by mcrowle

[Leo S]

It sounds like you were in pretty much the perfect place to observe the event Mike. You get to see a meteor at it's brightest/closest when observed in or near zenith! Have you considered setting up all-sky/meteor cameras?

[mcrowle]

No, I haven't thought of setting up a meteor camera to be honest. Maybe it's something I should look into!

Best regards, Mike.

[Leo S]

There are all kinds of options depending on budget/the amount of automation you want, and also the type of capture you want to make. Video is certainly the way to go if you are not a night owl, but pre-built all sky cameras which take long exposures are also available. If like me, you'd rather try to catch detail in individual events that are not enormous fireballs directly overhead, then extreme wide angles are best avoided. I personally try to cover the sky with as many cameras as possible, which increases my chances, while giving me some detail in the events captured - there is a balance to be struck. Of course, multiple cameras soon starts getting hard on the wallet, but if you go to extremes, here is an example of what you can do with 7 cameras!