Attempt at a double

More chance synchronicity produces an aircraft playing snooker with a likely  Cosmos satellite!

animated gif. 2.44mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Like buses again

Having waited a considerable time for an Iridium flare to show they now seem to be arriving in abundance. This one was Iridium 59 which achieved magnitude -3.2. Like my last Iridium post it just managed to hit its bright spot just as it departed the frame. Unfortunately it coincided with the gap between exposures which, by necessity, is at least 2 seconds. This allows for the camera to fully process each exposure and if not included results in dropped frames.

animated gif. 2.61mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Quartet

Another synchronous performance as these 4 objects contrive to fly over at the same time. The early evening is now noticeably the busiest period as the sun begins to set deeper and the majority of the lower orbiting satellites become eclipsed more readily than during the summer months.

animated gif. 2.64mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Not so bright

Not all Iridium flares are spectacular. This is Iridium 91 which managed to achieve its brightest point just as it was departing from the frame. At a meager magnitude -1.2 it was much dimmer than my previous Iridium posted on 4/10/2013.

animated gif. 2.63mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Like a snail

Not very spectacular and difficult to spot this faint object was traveling extremely slowly. It was visible on every one of a sequence of 116 frames (each a 40 second exposure). The first of which was taken at 21.37.59 the last taken at 23.00.20.  Its direction of travel was more than 45 degrees to the sidereal motion of the stars so not very geostationary.
The Andromeda Galaxy is prominent at the top of these images.

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

Crossed purposes

Sometimes they look intent on colliding with each other.

animated gif. 3.32mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

A brighter visitor

The law of averages made it likely that an Iridium flare would show up eventually on one of these random sessions. This one just managed to get in the frame....It is Iridium 95 and achieved magnitude -5.8 at the brightest point.

animated gif. 2.62mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Curious colour

This tumbling object is another that has a notably red tinge. Presumably we are looking at reflected sunlight so what produces the strong colour is a curiosity.

animated gif. 1.72mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

It pays to wait

Somewhat annoyingly I switched off the camera just as this, brighter than usual, pair of (presumably) NOSS satellites entered the frame. A complete sequence of their passing would have been appreciated.

Lens 40mm. single 40 second exposure

Two fast, one slow

Some objects travel very slowly. Compared to the two obvious trails this object (toward upper centre of frame and moving to left) is positively pedestrian. At 40 secs exposure per frame it took well over 20 minutes to pass across the field of view.

animated gif. 3.18mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Waiting for buses

Capturing satellites seems a bit like waiting for buses....they all come at once when they do appear. This amazingly synchronous sequence is a bit larger than usual @ 6mb so may take a moment to load.

animated gif. 6.00mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Flashing pair

This trio of close following trails had a couple of flashers. The first one has an interesting red component. The last one passes near to the Veil Nebula which is faintly visible on the frames. An oddly lit aircraft at bottom right completes this busy sequence.

animated gif. 4.30mb

Lens 40mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Touch of yin & yang

This satellite looks like opposing meteors as it sails past the Delphinus quartet.

animated gif. 2.73mb

Lens 28mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

More flashes

Still no luck with capturing a Perseid meteor but this odd sequence of flashes appeared at bottom centre just before a passing aircraft came through the frame.

animated gif. 2.91mb

Lens 28mm. 40 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

True & false

My previous post mentions noise artifacts that can be produced within the camera . These are relatively rare and initially had me thinking I was looking at some legitimate and very unusual objects until some dark frame tests revealed their true identity. It is quite a coincidence that my next session produced a satellite flash and a camera artifact close to each other on the same frame. This two satellite plus artifact sequence shares the frame with the distinctive quartet of stars in Delphinus.

animated gif. 2.38mb

Lens 28mm. 30 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

A flash with CA

As we are now in the period when Perseid meteors are likely to appear I've decided to use my wider 28mm lens to stand more chance of picking one up. No luck so far with meteors but another mystery single flash was detected (visible lower right).

I have found that sometimes the camera itself can occasionally generate a bit of random noise (other than hot pixels) but such noise is quite easy to identify on enlargement. My 28mm lens suffers some CA around the edges when wide open which shows as offset spots of red. This particular object has an associated red spot so confirms it came via the lens.

animated gif. 1.49mb

Lens 28mm. 30 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

A slow one

At 25 seconds per frame this object appears to be travelling relatively slowly. Its fleeting appearance here covers a period of around 4 minutes.

animated gif. 4.86mb

Lens 40mm. 25 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

A bit of colour

According to my satellite tracker this one is likely to have been Cosmos 338. I found it notable because of its distinctly reddish colour.
An enlargement of the trail seems to indicate the red component might be a series of erratic pulses but whether this is just a result of the photographic process or something else needs clarifying.

animated gif. 3.28mb

Lens 40mm. 20 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Brief evidence

This one briefly reflects a single flash of sunlight. Whether satellite or debris it helps reveal how much stuff is floating around that is generally invisible unless a chance orientation reveals it.

animated gif. 1.65mb

Lens 40mm. 20 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Busy spell

This sequence covers a 10 minute period that was particularly busy with aircraft & satellites. 15 second exposures @ 2fps. (best viewed @ 1080HD full screen).

Gone with the wind

This somewhat ghostly appearing satellite gives the impression it is being carried along by the wind.

animated gif. 3.80mb

Lens 40mm. 20 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Odd one

This one is a bit hard to spot....Central of the bottom right quadrant is a solitary flash which only appeared on one frame. An enlarged crop from the original frame highlights the object.

Not very spectacular but still a curiosity.

animated gif. 1.51mb

Lens 40mm. 20 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

An odd couple

This strange pair of flashes (near centre) appeared on adjacent frames with no evidence of them before or after.

animated gif. 2.87mb

Lens 40mm. 15 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

At the same time

This pair managed to synchronise their passing through Cygnus. They are probably Navstar47 & Oceansat2 which were around at the same time according to my satellite tracker.

animated gif. 3.53mb

Lens 40mm. 20 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Another fleeting view

This twilight passer-by didn't shine for very long.

animated gif. 3.55mb

Lens 40mm. 15 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Bit slow, bit odd

This one seemed a bit unusual....A faint object appears from bottom right corner and disappears with a flash near top centre. At 15 seconds per frame it is moving relatively slowly and flashing intermittently. The aircraft is rather less ambiguous.

animated gif. 5.87mb

Lens 40mm. 15 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

One with a flash

This passer-by gives a timely flash.

animated gif. 2.14mb

Lens 40mm. 15 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Another duet

It came as a bit of a surprise after the previous post that my first trial of a Bresser 5x50 night vision scope should have picked up a NOSS satellite pair. Given the small field of view the scope has it was even more remarkable. Although I am not yet used to how things appear in the Bresser this pair look to have been fairly bright. (1080 HD available)

Two at a time

I've noticed quite a few passes by these pairs of satellites flying around in unison. They are apparently NOSS (Navy Ocean Surveillance System) satellites and some information about them can be found here 

With the notable "Coathanger" star formation in the frame this pair are crossed by something a bit brighter.

animated gif. 5.27mb

Lens 40mm. 15 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

ISS & first try with Samsung SCB-2000

This is the first try out with a Samsung SCB-2000 video surveillance camera as yet unmodified and using its default settings. It shows an ISS pass on 15.6.2013 (with composite version added). The ISS is now quite amazingly bright as it continues with frequent passes over the UK. (1080HD available)

Bit of green

Disappointing that this distinctly green meteor was only partially recorded.

animated gif. 1.51mb

Lens 55mm. 20 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Two with a flash

This flashing satellite sequence barely made it into the frame.

animated gif. 2.63mb

Lens 55mm. 20 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Vapour in the dark

This twilight sequence shows the ATV-4 satellite crossing some aircraft activity during its pursuit of the ISS. Although the sky appears very light as a result of the long exposures it is actually very dark and the aircraft's vapour trail would have been much less obvious to the naked eye.

animated gif. 6.80mb

Lens 28mm. 15 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Nearly there

Almost exactly 2 days after my previous post the pursuing "Albert Einstein" has almost caught the ISS.

An interesting on-board video showing the launch of ATV-4 "Albert Einstein" can be found here

animated gif. 4.61 mb
Lens 28mm. 30 second exposures
(click thumbnail for large version)

Playing catch-up

In the early hours of 8/6/13 the ISS (@ magnitude -3.4) skims across the constellation of Hercules (top animation).

10 minutes later satellite ATV-4 "Albert Einstein" (@ magnitude -0.4) follows on its heels (bottom animation).

some info. from the ASTRIUM website:

The ‘Albert Einstein’ space freighter is now making its way to the International Space Station

On 5 June 2013 a specially adapted Ariane 5 rocket placed the 20.2 tonnes of the ATV-4 ‘Albert Einstein’ into orbit

The ATV ‘Albert Einstein’, designed and built by Astrium, is the fourth unmanned European transport spacecraft for the International Space Station (ISS). In addition to transporting fuel, gas, general supplies and scientific equipment to the ISS, the ATV will also assist in maintaining the Space Station’s attitude control after docking.

This is the 55th consecutive successful launch of Ariane 5, with a new payload record of 20.2 tonnes

The ATV-4 is the heaviest payload that Ariane has ever carried into orbit.

Orbit injection of the ATV needs a specially adapted version of the Ariane 5 launcher developed and produced by Astrium. This Ariane 5 ES has a reignitable EPS upper stage, a strengthened VEB, and a specifically redeveloped flight programme. This re-ignition capability, required to inject the ATV into an orbit from which it can reach the ISS, was first demonstrated in flight in 2007. The re-ignitable upper stage functioned flawlessly, and positioned the ATV on the target flight path.

animated gif.  3.68 mb
animated gif. 3.60 mb
Lens 28mm. 30 second exposures 
(click thumbnails for large versions)

Twilight crossing

This interesting twilight sequence shows two unidentified satellites on nearly identical paths following each other closely while the much brighter ISS passes across them during the early evening on 7/6/2013.

animated gif. 4.58 mb

Lens 28mm. 15 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Unusual flasher

Not sure what this could be. Very regular  light flashes look like conventional aircraft but relatively slow movement and lack of continuity across whole frame seem curious. (each frame is 20 seconds).

animated gif.  3.66 mb

Lens 28mm. 20 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

Just a glimpse

A mystery object flashes briefly at lower right of frame.

animated gif.  2.93 mb

Lens 28mm. 30 second exposures

(click thumbnail for large version)

The law pays a visit

A faint satellite is somewhat outshone by a police helicopter in pursuit of the local criminals.

animated gif. 3.44 mb
Lens 55mm. 15 second exposures
(click thumbnail for large version)

ISS

The ISS as it passes close by the bright star Vega on 6/6/2013

animated gif. 3.11 mb

Lens 28mm. 30 second exposures
(click thumbnail for large version)

Bit of a flash

This unidentified satellite presents a bright flash as it departs the field of view.

animated gif. 2.23 mb

Lens 28mm. 20 second exposures
(click thumbnail for large version)