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Thursday, August 18, 2016

Meteor or Satellite?

There is story about attempt to make photos of meteors. These photos were done April 13, 2016 about 5 a.m. When I saw first photo I was very happy that I this steak which looks like meteor. Direction on first view was from Perseid radiant and it was very close to Andromeda galaxy

Andromeda galaxy and meteor-satellite steak during Perseid meteor show April 2016 - photo 2
Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-6400, f/3.5, 90 sec.

I found that on previous photo I saw another steak. Fantastic!

Andromeda galaxy and meteor-satellite steak during Perseid meteor show April 2016 - photo 1
Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-6400, f/3.5, 120 sec.

But after that I recognize that both about same location and on the same line, but looks like have opposite directions! I combine both photos in one.

Andromeda galaxy and meteor-satellite steak during Perseid meteor show April 2016  - two photos
Probability that this is one meteor I think about zero. Difference between these two photos about one second and in this case meteor would be very slow. Probability that there are two meteors also very small. Definitely such situation would look very strange.


After that I googled if somebody had before such photos and can explain it. Immediately got idea that it can be Iridium satellite. When I asked this question on  astronomy forum http://www.astronomyforum.net/ and immediately received recommendation to check http://www.heavens-above.com/ website for Iridium satellites at this time. Actually it was one at about this time!,  but orbit was projected to Orion constellation from my location.

Iridium Flare

So continue to search if this is bright satellite. Havens-above web site also have this data. There were a lot of satellite so I got problem with calibration of EXIF DateTimeOriginal values the photos. I did couple of photos of computer time and http://www.time.gov/ time and compare with DateTimeOriginal. Difference about 1 hour (58 min) looks like camera not using summer time. After that I founded two satellites which most close to this time and orbit.

IRS-P2 Rocket

Cosmos 2292


One actually was in opposite direction (IRS-P2 Rocket) other in right direction and really on very close line and right direction (Cosmos 2292). But my calculation time is 4:57 a.m. - difference about 3 minutes. Probably camera clock not stable or not using start time or it can be other not so bright satellite or something other. Could not prove that these sky steaks is satellite but I believe it is most probable explanation. I added link in my blog to  http://www.heavens-above.com/   website – really amazing and very useful data. Hope my story was interesting and help other in such situation

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Long Island Astrophotography - Custer Astronomical Observatory

These photos were done during my trip to Custer Astronomical Observatory. This observatory is oldest Long Island's public astronomical observatory. It was founded in 1927. Photos were done by Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, ISO-6400, 20-30 seconds.

Long Island Astrophotography - Custer Astronomical Observatory - Dome and Radio Telescope

Custer Observatory Radio Telescope and Jupiter - Long Island Astrophotography
Custer Observatory Dome and Big Dipper - Long Island Astrophotography
Susan Mini Observatory inside Custer Observatory - Night Landscape
Silent Sky - Custer Observatory Long Island

Monday, May 9, 2016

Peru Astrophotography

Finally, my dream happens and I was able to see south sky – Southern Cross, Alpha Centauri, Large Magellanic Cloud etc. These photos were done during my trip to Peru, Central Andes, near Inca sacred valley and Cusco city - Chinchero village. I had limited time for astrophotography during shopping time of our women. Altitude is about 3,762 m or 12,339 ft. At such altitude the sky absolutely amazing! You really feel that stars are much closer.  

Canon EOS 60Da,  EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-4000, f/2.8, 30 seconds. on this photo you can see Alpha Centauri which is the closest star to the Sun, just 4.37 light-years. Thinking about next vacation :)

Peru Astrophotography - Milky Way and Alpha Centauri
  
Canon EOS 60Da,  EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-4000, f/2.8, 30 seconds. Peru is on South hemisphere and on the photo you can find the south pole (3 1/2 times the distance between Gacrux and Acrux).

Southern Cross (Crux constellation), Milky Way and and Alpha Centauri - Peru Astrophotography
Canon EOS 60Da,  EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-4000, f/2.8, 6 seconds.

Orion under Central Andes Mountains - Chinchero city - Peru Astrophotography
Canon EOS 60Da,  EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-4000, f/2.8, 30 seconds.

Jupiter - Peru Astrophotography

Large Magellanic Cloud Southern Cross - Peru Annotated Astrophotography

There is one more photo which I did in Cusco Planetarium

Peru Cusco Planetarium - Night Sky View


Sunday, April 10, 2016

Northeast Astronomy Forum NEAF 2016

Astronomy & Space Expo 2016 New York

Coronado Solar Telescopes -  NEAF 2016

Celestron Astro FI - NEAF 2016
Rotarion EP wheel - remote telescope imaging eyepiece  - NEAF 2016
Classic Telescopes - NEAF 2016
Celestron - Astronomy Binoculars - SkyMaster Pro - NEAF 2016

Starlight Cameras - NEAF 2016

Northeast Astronomy Forum 2016

TelescopeS.net  - NEAF 2016
TelescopeS_NET - NEAF 2016
Celestron 52305 Regal M2 80ED Spotting Scope - NEAF 2016
Coronado PST - NEAF 2016
AllView Sky-Watcher - NEAF 2016
Takahashi Telescope - NEAF 2016
Canon - NEAF 2016
Atik Cameras for astrophotography - NEAF 2016
The Affordable Observatory Dome - Explora Dome - NEAF 2016
Plane Wave Instruments - NEAF 2016
Lunt Engineering Telescope - NEAF 2016
Telescope - NEAF 2016

Explore Scientific Telescope NEAF 2016

Astronomy and Astrophotography Expo NEAF 2016
Glatter parallizer adapters NEAF 2016
SUNY Rockland Community College NEAF 2016

Meade Scope NEAF 2016

Meade Eyepieces NEAF 2016
Astronomy Patches NEAF 2016
Vixen Binoculars NEAF 2016
Solar Observation NEAF 2016



Monday, February 29, 2016

Aruba Astrophotography - Canon 60Da

I am continuing my travel astrophotography. There some astrophotos from my trip to Aruba - Canon 60Da

Aruba Astrophotography Moonlight and Moonpath
 
Aruba Astrophotography Cactus and Stars (Orion)

Aruba Astrophotography Night Landscape Moonlight and Moonpath

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Double Rainbow Astrophotography Zion National Park




During my trip to Zion Park the weather was not good for astrophotography - cloudy, rain storm. The only one photo maybe I can say is astrophotography - double rainbow, still thinking if it can be officially be astrophoto. Any case, there is the photo


 
Double Rainbow Astrophotography Zion National Park

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Orion (constellation) Astrophotography

His head is made of stars, but not yet arranged into constellations. 

-- Elias Canetti


One of the most recognizable constellations in the sky is Orion. There is my collection of Orion astrophotography from different counties. 

Orion Constellation Astrophotography Israel
Orion Constellation Astrophotography Culebra Island Puerto Rico


Orion Constellation and Northern Light Island Astrophotography

Orion Nebula M42 Urban NYC Astrophotography

Orion Constellation Astrophotography
Constellation Orion Israel Astrophotography from Kfar Szold Kibbutz

Constellation Orion Astrophotography Puerto Rico