M78 with 100ED + Asteroid?

[avandonk]

Did this the other night with the 100ED.
Details Canon 5DH, Orion 100ED with AP FR, 9x15min at an ISO of 400.
Flats adjusted with IP stacked with Registar and digitally developed with IP.
First image at 2300 on 13-01-07 last at 0300 14-01-07.
What is interesting there is a slow moving object centre left of image. Can anyone identify it?
The images are actually 15 minutes apart (30 min for each image) as I always use the in camera noise reduction.
So the first image started at 1030 HR 13-01-07 and the last image finished at 0300 HR 14-01-07. The total path time is 4hrs and 15 mins.

[avandonk]

Last two images

[[1ponders]]

Nice shootin' Bert.

I'd say it is an asteroid, though I can't find one in that area for that time. Where abouts would it be in your full image?

[avandonk]

Just below the end of the line. I could not find anything in Star Atlas Pro.

Bert

[[1ponders]]

For some reason your attachment doesn't open Bert. :shrug:

[avandonk]

It should now

[[1ponders]]

I haven't found anything but I'll keep looking.

[avandonk]

Here is a larger version 1.0MB
http://avandonkbl.bigblog.com.au/data/2/13839/image/M786423720070115201602.jpg
You can see the asteroids(?) path as a line of fainter spots due to the stacking.

Bert

[[1ponders]]

Sorry Bert, poor communication on my part. I found it in your image but I haven't been able to track it down.

[leon]

Seems like others are finding funny things in the night sky'

Cheers leon

[avandonk]

Whatever it is, it is heading for the Sun. Chance it could be a new comet!

Bert

[RB]

Interesting !

:confuse3:

[avandonk]

Did a quick measurement and it moved about 75 arc seconds in 4.25 hours.

Bert

[ballaratdragons]

I have animated Berts images.

Congratulations Bert on a very interesting find :thumbsup:
I have searched all 8 Sky Map Programs I have and I cannot find it as an Asteroid!!!!

Hopefully we will soon be able to call it 'Comet Bert 2007'. Wouldn't that be great.

Here is a link to the animation of Berts find, 4.25 hours compressed into 9 seconds:

http://members.optus.net/trlee8/CA.gif

[leon]

Good one Ken, that looks very similar to the one that i recorded near the LMC

Cheers leon

[CometGuy]

Bert,

I'd say this is asteroid 480(Hansa) which was about mag 12.3 at the time. I haven't got the latest asteroid elements but it is pretty close to the position in your image and consistent with the motion.

Terry

[RB]

Great work Ken.

:thumbsup:

[CometGuy]

JPL Horizon's gives the position of 480(Hansa) at your location 11pm 13th January as 4h 46m 49s +1d 48m which matches the object in your image. There you have it, better luck next time Bert!

Here is the link to Horizon's BTW:

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi#top

Terry

[ballaratdragons]

OK, it's not exactly Comet Bert 2007 then.

It's Asteroid Bert 480 (Hansa) :lol:

Great capture Bert. :thumbsup:

[jjjnettie]

How lucky are you to capture that.
Congrats.

[avandonk]

Thanks Terry, Paul and Ken for helping to work out what this was. I don't have enough knowledge to make much more than a cursory investigation (have a look in Star Atlas Pro). Just shows how useful it is having quick access to many people with greater experience through this forum.

I always flick through any series of images I take and if anything moves it really stands out. Quite often it is a weak internal reflection of a very bright star. These are easy to pick as they are usually directly opposite the star through the centre of the image (optic). The scary thing is they look like comets.

Bert

[spearo]

WOW,
Awsome catch Bert! And Ken's animation really reveals it well too
Great stuff!
frank

[avandonk]

Why the images got brighter is due to the Moon rising.

Bert