Reflection, refraction, or something else? (UPDATED)

The cosmos at our fingertips.
Post Reply

What is your opinion on the cause of the blurriness in the image shown?

You may select 1 option

 
 
View results

ETX_90
Ensign
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:01 pm
Location: Dallas, TX

Reflection, refraction, or something else? (UPDATED)

Post by ETX_90 » Fri Jan 07, 2005 1:53 pm

I was looking at the Haleakala concam when I noticed multiple strange streaks of light near the center of the image. It looks like something on the lens of the camera may be catching the light and refracting it, but I'm no camera expert.
Image
Please note that this strange area of blurriness is in all recent Haleakala images, but is not as obvious in some images as in others. The image posted is an example that shows the blurriness well.

NOTE - Please disregard the image shown earlier (taken at 16:09) if you thought that the information accompanying it was misleading or confusing. The image that was supposed to go with the information above is the one that is now shown (taken at 13:36).
Gnidakcolhcs

Matt Merlo
Ensign
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2004 3:44 pm
Location: Michigan Tech.

Post by Matt Merlo » Mon Jan 10, 2005 9:08 pm

It is either water or ice on top of the fisheye lens.
Captain Merlo, Starfleet Command

Dan Cordell
Ensign
Posts: 99
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:55 pm
Location: Michigan Tech
Contact:

Post by Dan Cordell » Wed Jan 26, 2005 6:38 pm

I'm betting on ice, water droplets would be more circular.
Dan Cordell, Giant Space Cow

User avatar
RJN
Baffled Boffin
Posts: 1673
Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:58 pm
Location: Michigan Tech

Post by RJN » Thu Jan 27, 2005 10:38 pm

Reports from the field (possibly elsewhere on the Asterisk?) indicate that it's actually water that has worked its way into the fisheye lens and settled at a central minimum. It evaporates eventually. The Haleakala (HL) crowd took their CONCAM3 inside to dry out just to get rid of their spot, before just replacing it recently. It is unclear if the water enters the lens from the top during a rainstorm or from the side from condensation during wet weather and fast temperature changes. I suspect the later.

- RJN

Post Reply