Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_K
Interesting object. So this is a tripod shot at 200mm, 2 min from first to last?
The apparent movement of the object is 36 arcminutes over that time. Given that 2 minutes is an approximation, this would be roughly 1 degree in 4 minutes. That is the magic apparent 'movement' for a geosynchronous satellite, against the stellar background - 360 deg in 24 hr. The celestial meridian goes just about right through Jupiter's position last night - fertile hunting grounds for geosynchronous satellites. It is definitely not an ordinary orbiting satellite.
But there are a couple of issues. Brightness - this is a very bright object, much brighter than a mag 4.9 star in the field. Maybe mag 2 or 3? Correct me someone if I'm wrong, but I don't think our GSSs get anywhere near that bright, viewed from Earth.??
And why does it appear to trail? A GSS will appear as a spot while the stars trail in fixed tripod shots. Your star trails are typical for a 6-sec shot at 200mm - I find trailing just becomes noticeable at about 5 sec. GSSs are in very high orbits - you would never get anything other than a spot no matter what shape they are. Interesting that your object is a tear-drop shape in each sub AND angled to the line of apparent movement, while the star trails are normal.
Putting my neck out, but I reckon it's an object like a plane or airship in geosynchronous (or near) orbit within our atmosphere. I know Lockheed has been working with an airship for insertion at 70,000 feet in a geosynchronous orbit. Hydrogen powered planes can continuously monitor single locations from stratospheric heights... 
Will expect a knock at the door any minute, eeek... 
Cheers - |
Thanks for your post Rob
I just revisited the pictures , Now I see the whole picture
I now admit I don't know what it is
Cheers