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(meteorobs) CR events & Fast Meteors
Tom, Andrew, et al.,
In the world of CCD photometry, we call these interactions with energetic
particles CR (Cosmic Ray) events. It is very improbable that a CR event's
geometry would carry the cosmic ray through the plane of the CCD device,
thus creating a streak. However, it does happen. I remember seeing CR
streaks that were 10-20 pixels long on some of my images. However after
literally thousands of images, I never saw one that went all the way
across.
One way we might tell if it is a CR event is to place a (FAST!) rotating
shutter in front of the video lens. If it is a meteor, it will be
interrupted. If it is a CR, it will continue uninterrupted across the
frame.
Another way to differentiate between a CR and a meteor would be to mask
off small regions of the optical system such that no light is striking the
CCD chip at say, the edges (you could equally well choose a couple of
small strips across the center of the image, like cross-hairs). If it is
a meteor, the streak will NOT continue into the masked region. If it is a
CR, the streak WILL continue into the masked region.
I look forward to hearing what these streaks are! Good luck!
Good skies,
Matthew
>Andrew et al.
>
>I'm wondering if an object that appears to be moving that fast (single
frame) might be the result of >some energetic particle interacting with
the recording device - in a manner similar to the way our >retina reacts.
>I'm way out on a limb of ignorance here. If anyone has some knowledge
here to reinforce or >refute this speculation, please feel free...
>
>Tom
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