What are the streaks of light in this Astro Photo?

I was just outside taking a photo of the night sky. I noticed a strange cross-hair of light in the lower right hand corner. Any ideas as to what this might be? The photos before and after doesn't show it. The moon was fairly bright tonight so the sky is not darker.

70-200 IS @ 2.8, ISO 1600, 37 Seconds (using equitorial moterized mount)

You might have imaged two satellites in different orbits (or different parts of the same orbit) (by strange coincidence.)

It was taken at 9:35 pm MDT from Edwards Colorado.

(no more)

Thanks for the thoughts. That really is neat. This is the second night I've ever taken astro photos. I don't know how to top something like that. I guess even a blind squirrel gets and acorn every once in a while.

Here is a 100% crop of the pic.

The length on the light trail is about right for satalites moving thru the sky with a 36 sec exposure.

With these new CMOS chips and higher resolution they are able to pick up everything passing over. Higher ISO films always added more grain causing lost information, so you couldn't capture what you did. What you captured was pretty rare.

Here is a NASA Satalite tracking site to help out.
http://science.nasa.gov/RealTime/JPass/25/JPass.asp

Ryan

I am not too sure about these streaks being satelites. Or at least I think it's worth a little more thought.

Using an equitorial moterized mount for 37 seconds the streaks would not be in a straight line. Would they? Also most satelites vary in brightness due to the different angle of sun reflection. You will see them getting brighter and brighter and then dimming until they disappear. The lines in this image are the same brightness throughout the entire track.

Unfortunately I don't know what else could cause the lines.

John

Unlikely!

I'm sure they're satellites. What focal length did you use?

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Regards
Mark

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Fred

It's the vapour trails left by the Planet Police vehicles going to remove Pluto from the Solar System.

Because the "Experts" Said so.........

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KenC

What else??

I remember there was a shuttle launch (STS-48 September 12, 1991) where the shuttle filmed several "streaks" during their mission. Some people were calling it UFO's others were saying it was the SDI (Star Wars Defense) System being deployed, and some said both. I never really formed an opinion on the whole thing. BUT, I remember I was outside in December of the same year and while looking up at the night sky I watched what I thought was a satellite going across the sky and right as it got overhead I saw a faint flash of light some distance away and another streak shot towards the first one appearing to hit it with what looked like an explosion and then a few streaks went different directions died out. It sent chills down my back at time and I have never seen anything like it since. The SDI theory has kind of stuck in my mind ever since, I just wonder what it was that got hit? I live in Arizona and frequently see satellites but like someone else said they usually have some arc to them and vary in intensity.

Jeff

Sometimes the flashes can be the solar pannels reflecting the sun called, Iridium Flares.
See link: http://www.assa.org.au/observing/iridium/

From: Advanced Astronomy: Lesson 2: Star Trail Photography Author: Astropunk
Published: 2004/3/13
http://www.astronomical.org/portal/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=116

"You’ll see other interesting features in your star trail photos. A satellite will cause a straight streak across the image...maybe at constant brightness, maybe not, depending on whether or not the spacecraft is tumbling or passing into the Earth’s shadow. The passages of aircraft are marked by (generally) straight lines across the image, punctuated by the bright flashes of the plane’s anti-collision strobe light. With a little bit of “pre-planning” before you leave home, you might even capture the –8 magnitude flare of sunlight off of an Iridium communications satellite."

At night I've also see bright flashes that lasted 5 seconds and traveling pretty fast. From what looked like a satellite but then make a 45 degree turn, wavered back and fouth while traveling then began heading away from the atmosphere becoming a tiny glowing spec into the distance. This was in the general area of Cassiopeia 80 degrees above northwest horizon. Total sighting lasted about 20 seconds. Just wish I had a fish eye lens for my Mamiya and I would have captured it in the photo I was taking. Here's the photo that just missed it in the frame. http://ryanmcginty.com/spirit/pages/003.htm

Ryan

Please keep sharing your great night photos.

Satellites are very common. On a clear night you can usually see several if you're paying attention.

A few years ago, I was sitting outside with relatives in Saskatchewan. We looked up at the stars while drinking wine and talking. We saw the northern lights in the summer, and we also saw a few satellites. Most unusual, though was a "satellite" that seemed to make a u-turn or s-shape turn, then disappear. I asked if anyone saw it, and my aunt said she did. It was definitely not the behavior of a satellite, but I don't know what it was.
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balloonchasers said:

I am not too sure about these streaks being satelites. Or at least
I think it's worth a little more thought.

Using an equitorial moterized mount for 37 seconds the streaks
would not be in a straight line. Would they?

Click to expand...

The satellite is moving in a straight line (relative to the field of view of the photo), and the equatorial mount is moving the camera at a constant angular velocity. Yes the camera motion will affect the satellite's apparent motion, but only by tilting the straight line. So it'll remain a straight line.

balloonchasers said:

Also most satelites
vary in brightness due to the different angle of sun reflection.
You will see them getting brighter and brighter and then dimming
until they disappear. The lines in this image are the same
brightness throughout the entire track.

Click to expand...

This is most noticable when the satellite reflects sunlight directly towards you. As this happens only at one precise angle for each flat surface, most of the time this is not happening, and the satellite looks about the same brightness.

Those are low orbit satellites. I shoot often at Red Feather Lakes at night, you can catch the satellites zipping around at regular intervals. You'll know what they are because they don't blink. Just a solid light moving at a steady rapid pace across the night sky.

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