Interesting Artificial Satellite photo

[JetDragon (Dave)]

Hi All

I was taking some shots of satellites last evening and on reviewing the shot of what I believe to be an Atlas Centaur Rocket Booster at around 21.28 EDST I notice that at the end of the 15 sec exposure there appears to be a fragment of the main body separating from main track.

Any ideas on what this might have been? I thought initially of camera shake, but the background stars are sharp. The satellite gains in brightness across the shot prior to the separation.

cheers

Dave

[OICURMT]

You forgot the attachment...

[JetDragon (Dave)]

Copy of photo attached - failed the first time.

cheers

Dave

[OICURMT]

A larger photo would be nice...

That said... the only recent launches were an Atlas V from Florida and a Long-March 3C from China, both which were later than your image.


OIC!

[JetDragon (Dave)]

Sorry OIC - please be gentle - I'm new here

Here's my attempt at a larger image

cheers

Dave

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Hi Dave and welcome to IIS. I upped the size to 1024 x 549 to make it easier to see as to what it is

[JetDragon (Dave)]

Thanks or your help Warren - much appreciated.

The image shows what I am describing quite well - quite unusual - but probably a very mundane explanation

cheers

Dave

[OICURMT]

Didn't mean anything by it, was stating facts... I do tend to get a little curt sometimes... sorry.

Now that I see a larger image, there is obviously a bifurcated path of some sort.

Don't really know what it would be. Any chance of getting a rough ALT-AZ?

OIC!

[JetDragon (Dave)]

Hi OIC

No worries mate - I'm very new to much of this stuff.

Satellite was roughly at 75% due south from my observation point on the NSW Central Coast

Cheers

Dave