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Re: (meteorobs) Re: Some Perseid photos
Having looked at the image
http://wwwdot carmelcoast.com/media/Robin/Astro/Perseids6.jpg
I'm pretty sure it is not a meteor but an aircraft.
1) Without having done any astrometry, the path looks to pass some 5 or 10
degrees below the Perseid radiant.
2) It has a wavy path inconsistent with a meteor, but present in all the
aircraft trails we record regularly here.
3) Look beyond the bright "end" and there is clearly a fainter red trail
significantly displaced from the overall path.
The aircraft was probably going from right to left with the landing lights
either switched on at the bright section, or directed towards the camera
in a turn.
Robert H. McNaught
rmn@aaocbn.aaodot gov.au
On Fri, 20 Aug 1999, James Wray wrote:
> Hi Bob an All
>
> Just to keep things going here, I am kind of thinking that if the waviness
> effect in the meteor image was due to atmosphere, then the stars would have
> to share in the same or greater degree of turbulent motion. This effect is
> certainly there in general, and is the actual cause of astronomical
> "seeing", or fuzzing out of star images. Usually astronomical seeing image
> displacements are less than say a few arc seconds, which at the scale of
> the meteor image would appear to be much less than the waves in the meteor
> trace. I'm still inclined to put the motion in the meteor trajectory
> itself. I think there was a visual multiple witness fireball/meteorite
> over Poland (was it Pultusk?? someone might set me straght on this-) many
> years ago that was observed to make a 180 degree change in direction along
> its entry trajctory. I think transverse forces can act on meteorids in
> some instances, and this may be an interesting example. Just wanting to
> keep the possibility open there. :)
>
> All Best Wishes
>
> Jim Wray
>
> -----------------------------
>
>
>
> At 11:37 AM 8/20/99 -0700, you wrote:
> >Kevin,
> >
> >That faint continuation is probably real. It appears that a fragment
> >survived the terminal burst and that is what you see as the faint line.
> >
> >As for the waviness, this was probably caused by a turbulent atmosphere.
> >
> >Interesting picture. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
> >
> >Bob
> >
> >
> >KevTK@aol.com wrote:
> >>
> >> HI All,
> >>
> >> In the meteor folder of AOL's astronomy BBS there is this guy who is
> showing
> >> his Perseid photos. I thought I would let you all in on the links so
> everyone
> >> could see. When you see the first one can someone tell me if thats a camera
> >> artifact near the head of the meteor? The message below was written 8/16.
> >> Kevin K
> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >> Here are some quick scans of a couple shots taken Thursday night. I haven't
> >> had time to correct the color properly, but I thought you might find the
> >> images interesting.
> >>
> >> <A
> >>
> HREF="http://wwwdot carmelcoast.com/media/Robin/Astro/Perseids6.jpg">http://www.c
> >> armelcoast.com/media/Robin/Astro/Perseids6.jpg</A>
> >>
> >> <A
> >>
> HREF="http://wwwdot carmelcoast.com/media/Robin/Astro/Perseids6detail.jpg">http:/
> >> /wwwdot carmelcoast.com/media/Robin/Astro/Perseids6detail.jpg</A>
> >>
> >> <A
> >>
> HREF="http://wwwdot carmelcoast.com/media/Robin/Astro/Perseids50mm1.4.jpg">http:/
> >> /wwwdot carmelcoast.com/media/Robin/Astro/Perseids50mm1.4.jpg</A>
> >>
> >> They were taken from the observing deck of MIRA's Oliver Observatory on
> Chews
> >> Ridge. I was experimenting with documenting light pollution while a friend
> >> was shooting some calibration shots with the 36".
> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~
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>
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