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Astronomy Question

WORFWORF The Burninator
Ok, about 10 minutes ago, I glanced out of my window and saw a bright "star" in the night sky.

I turned the light off and had a closer look (I dont have a telescope so I was just using the naked eye).

I then took some photos of it but only one came out well and [URL=http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk/stars1.jpg]here[/URL]

I know it isnt a star: the other stars are only visible with the lights off and I look at them close to the window. I also know it isnt a plane, it isn't moving.

If anyone wants to take a look, it is south, roughly 20 degrees from the ground and I am in the South West of England (I don't know much about astronomy, so I can't give any more precise info than that).

Worf
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Comments

  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    Looks like the AOL running man got tired and sat down.

    [IMG]http://oakhurst.net/~alien/MISC/stars1.jpg[/IMG]
  • lol @ jack

    interesting, not an aircraft, none have that many lights...

    first thought:
    is it a streetlight though a tree?
  • LogicSequenceLogicSequence Elite Ranger
    solar flare? gaseous anamoly? weird looking thing in the sky...? LOL angry vorlon?? :angryv:
  • croxiscroxis I am the walrus
    Bring it up at [url]www.space.com[/url]

    However I have seen nothing about it on thier forums....
  • Captain,SimmondsCaptain,Simmonds Trainee trainee
    Hmmmm.... Can you get any more picture of it??

    It could be a UFO, or it could just be a Sattilite in geo-stationary orbit.
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    Its daylight now but tonight I will take some more pictures if its visible.

    Worf
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    It's clearly swamp gas.


    Seriously, though... It probably is just an atmospheric phenomenon. It is quite common for things like changes in atmospheric pressure to bend light in funny ways, or tiny clouds to reflect bright lights. I'd follow croxis's advice and bring it up at space.com. Someone there should be able to tell you if this particular thing could be an atmospheric thing, the ISS, or something more mysterious.
  • LogicSequenceLogicSequence Elite Ranger
    i still say it's an angry vorlon fighting another angry vorlon in close orbit..... :angryv:
  • C_MonC_Mon A Genuine Sucker
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by LogicSequence [/i]
    [B]i still say it's an angry vorlon fighting another angry vorlon in close orbit..... :angryv: [/B][/QUOTE]
    Randy and Rick??
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    Ok, I have 2 more pictures.

    [URL=http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk/whatisit.jpg]Here[/URL] and [URL=http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk/whatisit2.jpg]here[/URL]

    The second picture makes it look like a satelite..."they're watching."

    Worf
  • bobobobo (A monkey)
    It's obviously moving, given the changes between picture 1 and 2. How much time passed between the two shots? Its possible your seeing the space station Freedom.
  • WHYWHY Elite Ranger
    I don't know why... but when I see the glows and what looks like a shillouette behind the lights, the first thing I think of is a Klingon Warbird....
  • LogicSequenceLogicSequence Elite Ranger
    randy and ricky the vorlons are dieing.... see they're turning red and dead like ;) soon, they will explode and the earth will have a wave a white energy flash over it ;)
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    I'm just wondering, but are you using a tripod or just handheld?

    A satellite, when in motion, produces either a streaking or blinking (Various angles of surfaces reflecting light while rotating)
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by bobo [/i]
    [B]It's obviously moving, given the changes between picture 1 and 2. How much time passed between the two shots? Its possible your seeing the space station Freedom. [/B][/QUOTE]

    Freedom? It's name is Babylon!
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sanfam [/i]
    [B]I'm just wondering, but are you using a tripod or just handheld?

    A satellite, when in motion, produces either a streaking or blinking (Various angles of surfaces reflecting light while rotating) [/B][/QUOTE]

    Its a handheld Digital Camera, it must be about 20-30 seconds between the two photos (I opened the window to the glass wouldnt be in the way for the second photo).

    Also, I tried to post on the space.com forums, the page to register refused to load so I will try again later.

    Worf
  • C_MonC_Mon A Genuine Sucker
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Biggles [/i]
    [B]Freedom? It's name is Babylon! [/B][/QUOTE]
    Rick and Randy fighting each other on Babylon 5???
  • RhettRhett (Not even a monkey)
    That second pic is very interesting... I have little real knowledge of atmospheric phenomina, so I have no idea. Cool though...
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    Anyway, I'd *really* suggest investing in or borrowing a tripod for that shot. While I can't say for sure, as I wasn't there, it looks typical of a long-exposure blur (moving the camera around while shutter is open).
  • [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Sanfam [/i]
    [B]Anyway, I'd *really* suggest investing in or borrowing a tripod for that shot. While I can't say for sure, as I wasn't there, it looks typical of a long-exposure blur (moving the camera around while shutter is open). [/B][/QUOTE]

    he could also set it on a chair, or other stationary object. :)
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    The thing is, tripods have more use than jkust that. They're very handy in general.

    As a rule of thumb, I *ALWAYS* have a tripod in the trunk of the car. It's always there, and I've had many occasions in which Iv'e needed it.
  • StrikerStriker Provided with distinction
    Yes, tripods come in handy for a lot of things. However, I've never had the need to use one at a moment's notice. :) I usually have my digital camera with me most of the time though.
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    I do lots of night shooting and long exposure stuff, so i have lots of use for mine :D
  • StrikerStriker Provided with distinction
    I've been trying to figure out the costs of astro-photography. If everything goes right, I'll be able to build a small observatory in our field at my ranch in a year or so.

    Still, it's $1000 just to get all the equipment including the telescope. :) I've got other stuff that's more important.

    However, if anyone is looking into doing this, give me a buzz. I've got a lot of info on this.
  • now that sounds cool Striker, neat idea.

    what kinda telescope?
  • SanfamSanfam I like clocks.
    If I could ever afford a telescope with a rig to compensate for the earth's rotation, I'd be sooo happy. A nice large aperature telescope would so rule :D
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    That reminds me; I need to head over to the observatory one night this month and take a look at Mars.
  • JackNJackN <font color=#99FF99>Lightwave Alien</font>
    [QUOTE]The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

    The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

    By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month. Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN

    Mars' extraordinarily close approach to Earth will culminate on 27 August 2003, when the red planet will come within 35 million miles (or 56 million kilometers) of Earth, its nearest approach to us in almost 60,000 years. At that time, Mars should appear to be approximately 85 times brighter in the sky than it does ordinarily.

    This upcoming phenomenon has been featured in a couple of articles on the web site Space.com which are well worth the reading: Mars to Get Closer than Ever in Recorded History in 2003 and Orbital Oddities: Why Mars will be So Close to Earth in August. Interested observers can also join Mars Watch 2003 through the MarsToday.com web site.

    We should note that although Mars' close proximity to Earth in August 2003 will be a rare occurrence, the red planet comes almost as near to us every 15 to 17 years. To the unaided observer, Mars won't really appear significantly larger or clearer this August than it does at those intervals.
    [/QUOTE]
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    Yes, that. :)
  • WORFWORF The Burninator
    [IMG]http://www.isd-imperium.co.uk/mars.jpg[/IMG]

    After seeing this picture, I think what I have seen from my window is infact...Mars.

    Worf
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