APOD: A Perseid Fireball and the Milky Way (2021 Aug 03)

[APOD Robot]

A Perseid Fireball and the Milky Way

Explanation: It was bright and green and flashed as it moved quickly along the Milky Way. It left a trail that took 30 minutes to dissipate. Given the day, August 12, and the direction, away from Perseus, it was likely a small bit from the nucleus of Comet Swift-Tuttle plowing through the Earth's atmosphere -- and therefore part of the annual Perseids meteor shower. The astrophotographer captured the fireball as it shot across the sky in 2018 above a valley in Yichang, Hubei, China. The meteor's streak, also caught on video, ended near the direction of Mars on the lower left. Next week, the 2021 Perseids meteor shower will peak again. This year the Moon will set shortly after the Sun, leaving a night sky ideal for seeing lots of Perseids from dark and clear locations across planet Earth.

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[RocketRon]

Wow. Lovely image, great catch.

We wonder what sort of exposure time that was ?

[Kadaitcha_Man]

I was fascinated (for want of another word) by the dissipating trail of this 'Fireball' distorting like a worm...but yes RocketRon, I too would like to know what the actual exposure time was. It's been many moons since I put words upon this board; evenso I wish all fellow-participants good health and safety through the current pandemic pandemonium.

Cheers

[Tszabeau]

Is that the Tardis in the lower left?

[orin stepanek]

Ohhh! Ahhh! Awe! I liike That was a
nice catch Dandan Huang

Peak-a-boo Kitty!

[Chris Peterson]

Wow. Lovely image, great catch.

We wonder what sort of exposure time that was ?

Most likely about 30 seconds.

[Chris Peterson]

It left a trail that took 30 minutes to dissipate.

As a matter of usage: we see the meteor trail in this image, the immediate glow as the meteoroid ablates. Persistent glowing dust and gas in the seconds or minutes after the meteor has passed is called the meteor train.

[neufer]

It left a trail that took 30 minutes to dissipate.

As a matter of usage: we see the meteor trail in this image, the immediate glow as the meteoroid ablates. Persistent glowing dust and gas in the seconds or minutes after the meteor has passed is called the meteor train.

train (n.) early 14c., "a drawing out, delay;" late 14c., "trailing part of a skirt, gown, or cloak;" also "retinue, procession," from Old French train "tracks, path, trail (of a robe or gown); act of dragging," from trainer "to pull, drag, draw," from Vulgar Latin *traginare, extended from *tragere "to pull," back-formation from tractus, past participle of Latin trahere "to pull, draw".

General sense of "series, progression, succession, continuous course" is from late 15c.; train of thought is attested from 1650s. The railroad sense "locomotive and the cars coupled to it" is recorded from 1820, from the notion of a "trailing succession" of wagons or carriages pulled by a mechanical engine.
..................................................
trail (n.) early 14c., "trailing part of a robe, gown, etc.," from trail (v.). The meaning "track or smell left by a person or animal" is also from 1580s. Meaning "path or track worn in wilderness" is attested from 1807.

trail (v.) c. 1300, "to hang down loosely and flow behind" (of a gown, sleeve, etc.), from Old French trailler "to tow; pick up the scent of a quarry," ultimately from Vulgar Latin *tragulare "to drag," from Latin tragula "dragnet, javelin thrown by a strap," probably related to trahere "to pull". The meaning "follow the trail of" (an animal, etc.) is first recorded late 14c. Meaning "to lag behind" is from 1957.

[hypatia]

Is that the Tardis in the lower left?

I was wondering the same thing but to me, it looks like an old cell phone.

[neufer]

Is that the Tardis in the lower left?

I was wondering the same thing but to me, it looks like an old cell phone.

• You mean the sign telling folks to turn left or risk run off the road?

[hypatia]

Is that the Tardis in the lower left?

I was wondering the same thing but to me, it looks like an old cell phone.

• You mean the sign telling folks to turn left or risk run off the road?

I'm glad you could see that. Even when I enlarged it to 250, I still had trouble seeing it. Old eyes.

How do I post an image here? I tried all of the regular ways, copy image/paste. Tried the image button above but it didn't work. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

[johnnydeep]

I was wondering the same thing but to me, it looks like an old cell phone.

• You mean the sign telling folks to turn left or risk run off the road?

I'm glad you could see that. Even when I enlarged it to 250, I still had trouble seeing it. Old eyes.

How do I post an image here? I tried all of the regular ways, copy image/paste. Tried the image button above but it didn't work. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?

No, but you might benefit from reading this how-to post about images: viewtopic.php?t=22034

[Guest]

Is that the Tardis in the lower left?

I was wondering the same thing but to me, it looks like an old cell phone.

• You mean the sign telling folks to turn left or risk run off the road?

Ah-Ha! The Doctor remains one step ahead of the rest of us.