Iridium Flare in Milky Way Wide Field

[xelasnave]

I was setting up and had the camera (300d) riding capturing some wide field of the Galactic Centre. I had not dialed in polar alignment nor did I guide this shot so please forgive the trails.. but I was happy to see what I believe to be an Iridium Flare showing two flashes.
Alex

[ballaratdragons]

Oooooo, Pretty Alex!

Good shooting.

[xelasnave]

Here is probably the best capture of the night. You can see the Lagoon Neb almost centre of view. Alex

[h0ughy]

the glow on the right, is that the camera?

[xelasnave]

Thanks for that..did you hear who won the ALF Grand Final?? :cool:
alex

[atalas]

Some nice work there Alex... Iridium flares don't know Alex you might be right I'm sure the experts will jump in and let us know. I love the way the star colours stick out in that second shot with trailing stars. The third shot looks great Alex very nice indeed.

Louie :thumbsup:

[xelasnave]

Glow what glow I cant see any..
Yes it was amp glow I usually dump that part.
alex

[davidpretorius]

nice work!!! ooooooowwww i wanting tracking!

[RB]

Great work Alex.

:thumbsup:

[Lee]

Nice photo..... what time was the exposure taken at??.... Iridiums are only going to be seen in early evening/morning..... doesn't seem bright enough to be an Iridium, you may be a long way from the ground track though....
I want tracking too! :confused:

[xelasnave]

Cant be exact on the time but would have been between 7 and 8 pm. Yes I thought it didnt seem bright enough but it matches a shot I have seen of one. I have seen two flares and wow they were bright and from those I would expect a brighter capture.. but what else could it be..
alex

[xelasnave]

Further re tracking.. for all practical purposes the camera could have sat by itself on the mount to get these shots, with out being guided (once correctly polar aligned) It makes me think I wish the first thing I ever bought for astronomy was a real good mount. It blows me away what I can capture using only the lxd55 mount and the little 80 x 400 ($200 scope) makes you wonder why one is always interested in a bigger app. when you consider the results (posted elsewhere) from such simple gear.
Alex

[Lee]

Certainly is the Iridium happy hour..... Must have been a flare, just a fair way from the ground track.... Picked up a little GPS handset not long ago, one reason so I could get under the track nicely - I want -8 mag flares!!
Iridiums are a great way to impress the uninitiated, even SWMBO was impressed when a mag -6ish flare appeared exactly on cue for us one night..... :)

[ving]

sweet shots a many alex! :)

[RB]

Lee stop it, your getting me all excited about Iridiums.
Gotta get a GPS unit, Gotta get a GPS unit............
:cool:

Cheers

[xelasnave]

mmmm I did not realise you could predict the poss and mag of flash.. I have a gps and wouldnt you know it has just gone on the blink. Thanks for all the encouragement.
alex

[RAJAH235]

Alex, Don't know if you have this link, goto > www.heavens-above.com Just register & scroll to Iridium flares. :D L.

[iceman]

Nice one Alex, great shots and great timing to get a flare!

[Lee]

One of the ultimate little gadgets they are.... I got a Garmin Geko 201 (you can get them from Andrews for about $240 - I paid $300 from a local guy :( :( )
It was very cool in NZ too..... standing on glacier.... look honey, we are at 1947m altitude.... it also helped re-find the car in the long term car park when we got home! I looked like a water diviner.... GPS outstretched.... it is at 20m NW.....

[xelasnave]

I dug out my GPS which I had given up on cause the last couple of times out it would not could not find a Sat even after many minutes... well happy days it works again ( after realising it was still miles away) so I will find out what opportunities may present to get a flare, noe that I can give co ordinates. Hey just realised this is a Garmin etrex??? but it has a nice artistic bush type camo finish.
Alex

[Lee]

I'm out in the coutry this weekend, and had a -8 Iridium "flyover" at 5.28 this morning - I was all prepared to pop out and watch it but my bed was too warm - darn early mornings!!
I'm going to try and drive out to directly under ones path tonight and image it..... fingers crossed for a speccy pic!

[xelasnave]

It happened again!
Setting up thought I would do some wide field whilst getting aligned and when I looked (besides dispairing over the star trails) found another flare.. This was with the 300d at its widest field of view.
I am wondering maybe I should buy a lottery ticket cause what do you recon the odds were?
Alex

[TidaLpHasE]

:thumbsup:Great shot Alex, wish i had tracking.....

[xelasnave]

Try a barn door mount for wide field, an hours tinkering would see you there
and thank you for the encouragement
alex