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Archive 2016 · Night Sky Photo Question

  
 
silverbird
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Night Sky Photo Question


Hi,
I was playing around shooting the night sky in Northern Michigan.
First time attempting this type of photography.
The shot was taken with a 30 second exposure facing north.
Can someone please explain the line in the image?
My guess is it's either an airplane, an asteroid or a satellite?
The streak goes from south to north.
Thanks,
John








Oct 16, 2016 at 09:54 AM
Tuan Le
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Night Sky Photo Question


My guess would be ISS (space station). You can verify through various websites or apps that can tell you where it is in the night sky at the time you took the photo. An airplane will have blinking lights that will show up on a photo, a meteorite would fade out as it burns up and a typical small satellite wouldn't be this bright.


Oct 16, 2016 at 10:24 AM
Ernie Aubert
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Night Sky Photo Question


Swamp gas!


Oct 16, 2016 at 11:01 AM
docsmiles17
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Night Sky Photo Question


I have noticed same observation on some of my nightscapes. I have assumed it was a shooting star.


Oct 17, 2016 at 12:22 AM
JimFox
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Night Sky Photo Question


docsmiles17 wrote:
I have noticed same observation on some of my nightscapes. I have assumed it was a shooting star.


If it was a meteor, typically there will be leading and trailing edges on it with a brighter area in the middle of the streak.

Jim



Oct 17, 2016 at 12:23 AM
JimFox
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Night Sky Photo Question


I would agree with Tuan that is very likely the ISS.

Jim



Oct 17, 2016 at 12:24 AM
silverbird
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Night Sky Photo Question


Thanks to all for the input.
I did go to the ISS Tracking website.
It actually shows the position at the time and date the photo was taken.
It was in the direction (NNW) north of Lake Superior I was shooting.
So, it looks as though it was the ISS in my photograph.
Regards,
John



Oct 17, 2016 at 07:06 AM
jforkner
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Night Sky Photo Question


According to heavens-above.com, the ISS would have been visible over northern MI on 10/10/16 at 19:53 hours for about 7 minutes at a max. altitude of 25º moving from WNW to NE. You’ll have to determine if that fits.

Normally an aircraft will show up as a red & white (or just white) series of dots as its flashing lights create a path across the sky.

A meteor will usually show up as a streak with a taper at one or both as it increases, then dies in brightness.

A satellite (e.g., the ISS) will usually show up as a thin line with no interruptions for the duration of the exposure (or during its period of visibility).


Jack



Oct 17, 2016 at 07:16 AM
ckcarr
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Night Sky Photo Question


doesn't look bright enough for the ISS. I'd guess a satellite.
I have many photographs where there are several thin dimmer lines like that through the sky, and then the ISS (or at the time the shuttle) which are far brighter.



Oct 17, 2016 at 07:34 AM
AvianScott
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Night Sky Photo Question


ckcarr wrote:
doesn't look bright enough for the ISS. I'd guess a satellite.
I have many photographs where there are several thin dimmer lines like that through the sky, and then the ISS (or at the time the shuttle) which are far brighter.


I agree. The ISS will be significantly brighter than virtually every star in the image.



Oct 17, 2016 at 08:23 AM
silverbird
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Night Sky Photo Question


jforkner wrote:
According to heavens-above.com, the ISS would have been visible over northern MI on 10/10/16 at 19:53 hours for about 7 minutes at a max. altitude of 25º moving from WNW to NE. You’ll have to determine if that fits.

Normally an aircraft will show up as a red & white (or just white) series of dots as its flashing lights create a path across the sky.

A meteor will usually show up as a streak with a taper at one or both as it increases, then dies in brightness.

A satellite (e.g., the ISS) will usually show up as a thin line with
...Show more


That matches the time and direction the photograph was taken.
It was taken at 24mm focal length, exposure was f 2.8, 30 seconds, ISO 1600.
I was in the northern portion on the lower peninsula of Michigan.
The ISS was over the northern shore of Lake Superior. (quite a distance from where the shot was taken)
Thanks,
John



Oct 17, 2016 at 09:51 AM





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