Satellite or meteor?

[johankj]

Hi all,

Looking through my data (trying to capture Andromeda on a fixed tri-pod), there was a streak across three of the photos (all 10 sec exposures). Attached is the combined images, from Startrails.

How can one tell if it is a meteor or a satellite?

(PS: You could probably calculate its velocity...)

Image is cropped. Taken with a Canon 1000D with a Canon 50mm f1.8 EF Mk II prime lens on fixed tripod (1600ISO/1.8f/10sec).

[arad85]

Well, it's taken 30 seconds to go across the cropped picture. I've never seen a meteor move that slowly... In addition, it starts dark, brightens then fades. My conclusion would be a satellite...

[jgs001]

Looking at the image, it looks like it's probably an Iridium flare... I can't tell what direction that was heading in from the image, but it looks sort of north/south which would confirm the liklihood of an Iridium

[johankj]

Well, it's taken 30 seconds to go across the cropped picture. I've never seen a meteor move that slowly... In addition, it starts dark, brightens then fades. My conclusion would be a satellite...

Yeah, that makes sense. The ones I've seen, are just brief flashes, mayb half a second long.

Would a meteor show up equally bright along its trajectory when captured on a photo?

[johankj]

Looking at the image, it looks like it's probably an Iridium flare... I can't tell what direction that was heading in from the image, but it looks sort of north/south which would confirm the liklihood of an Iridium

It goes from South to North, looking at the photos...

[jgs001]

That'll be an Iridium flare... If you know what time that was (should be in the image EXIF data) then if you sign up to heavensabove, you can check as to exactly which flare it is you captured.

[callump]

I would just go for a 'bog standard' satellite. 30s transit seems a bit slow for the iridium flares I have seen - though maybe if far from the track, it might be.

/callump

[jgs001]

About 15 to 20 seconds for the flare itself and 5 to 10 seconds each for the lead in and lead out seems normal to me. My 30s exposure shots of flares normally miss part of the lead in or lead out.

[callump]

Well i'm sure if we had the times of the exposures we could find out fairly quickly.

/callump

[johankj]

That'll be an Iridium flare... If you know what time that was (should be in the image EXIF data) then if you sign up to heavensabove, you can check as to exactly which flare it is you captured.

27th of October at 17:47, and I'm at 60N/11E.

[jgs001]

Hmm. I'm not showing anything for that time on either heavens above or calsky for your location.

[callump]

Johan,

is that UT or your local time ? (UT + 1 ?)

/callump

[johankj]

Johan,

is that UT or your local time ? (UT + 1 ?)

/callump

Yes...

[johankj]

Yes...

I mean, local time, sorry...

[callump]

From Heavens Above it seems likely to me to be the Cosmos 2333 rocket booster. Seems to have been tracking to the east of Andromeda at the time, from your location. A bit faint at mag 4. but then the track is faint too.

/callump

[callump]

Actually here is the pass track, from heavens above.

/callump

[johankj]

From Heavens Above it seems likely to me to be the Cosmos 2333 rocket booster. Seems to have been tracking to the east of Andromeda at the time, from your location. A bit faint at mag 4. but then the track is faint too.

/callump

Wow, I'm impressed I must learn to use that site. Also, love the chart you posted. Looks like it's the right one.