Starship Asterisk*

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2024 4:07 am**

Meteor Borealis

Explanation: A single exposure made with a camera pointed almost due north on August 12 recorded this bright Perseid meteor in the night sky west of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The meteor's incandescent trace is fleeting. It appears to cross the stars of the Big Dipper, famous northern asterism and celestial kitchen utensil, while shimmering curtains of aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, dance in the night. Doubling the wow factor for night skywatchers near the peak of this year's Perseid meteor shower auroral activity on planet Earth was enhanced by geomagnetic storms. The intense space weather was triggered by flares from an active Sun.

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Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2024 1:01 pm**

Lovely photograph. I have seen green aurora from Iceland, but sadly never red. And a beautiful Perseid meteor streak.

I am somewhat annoyed, however, by photographs, often beautiful in the selves which people genuinely believe show meteor tracks, but which, to me, look like satellite trails. The even brightness across the entire path is a clue, as should be the length of the tracks being exactly the same on the frame. I wonder whether someone could advise on a polite and gentle way to let people known their mistake, so as to avoid seeming aggressive, or somewhat of a 'know-it-all'? I don't what to hurt anyone's feelings or put them off astronomy.

Thanks in advance.

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2024 2:03 pm**

Eclectic Man wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 1:01 pm Lovely photograph. I have seen green aurora from Iceland, but sadly never red. And a beautiful Perseid meteor streak.

I am somewhat annoyed, however, by photographs, often beautiful in the selves which people genuinely believe show meteor tracks, but which, to me, look like satellite trails. The even brightness across the entire path is a clue, as should be the length of the tracks being exactly the same on the frame. I wonder whether someone could advise on a polite and gentle way to let people known their mistake, so as to avoid seeming aggressive, or somewhat of a 'know-it-all'? I don't what to hurt anyone's feelings or put them off astronomy.

Thanks in advance.

Honestly... if somebody gets "put off" of astronomy when it's pointed out that what they identify as a meteor might in fact be a satellite, they can't have been much into astronomy in the first place.

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2024 5:08 pm**

Chris Peterson wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 2:03 pm
Eclectic Man wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 1:01 pm Lovely photograph. I have seen green aurora from Iceland, but sadly never red. And a beautiful Perseid meteor streak.

I am somewhat annoyed, however, by photographs, often beautiful in the selves which people genuinely believe show meteor tracks, but which, to me, look like satellite trails. The even brightness across the entire path is a clue, as should be the length of the tracks being exactly the same on the frame. I wonder whether someone could advise on a polite and gentle way to let people known their mistake, so as to avoid seeming aggressive, or somewhat of a 'know-it-all'? I don't what to hurt anyone's feelings or put them off astronomy.

Thanks in advance.
Honestly... if somebody gets "put off" of astronomy when it's pointed out that what they identify as a meteor might in fact be a satellite, they can't have been much into astronomy in the first place.

And nothing in the APOD even mentioned the two satellite tracks in the image, which for reference are the ones labelled "S" in my screengrab, to contrast them with the meteor trail labelled "M". I think it would have been helpful to mention it in the text.

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2024 5:16 pm**

I wish every APOD would link to the actual source of the image instead of leaving us to ferret it out, along with any pertinent capture details. Here's an interview with this APOD's author on Canadian TV, though even this doesn't give the details of the shot:

AUGUST 13, 2024
We check in with local photographer Jason Dain to learn more about some of his stunning images that captured Aurora and the Perseid meteor shower at the same time Sunday night over Halifax.

https://globalnews.ca/video/10695931/lo ... or-shower/

And, sadly, neither does Jason's Instagram post reveal the image capture details:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-ukg8oRhUn/

Posted: **Fri Aug 16, 2024 8:25 pm**

johnnydeep wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 5:16 pm I wish every APOD would link to the actual source of the image instead of leaving us to ferret it out, along with any pertinent capture details. Here's an interview with this APOD's author on Canadian TV, though even this doesn't give the details of the shot:

AUGUST 13, 2024
We check in with local photographer Jason Dain to learn more about some of his stunning images that captured Aurora and the Perseid meteor shower at the same time Sunday night over Halifax.

https://globalnews.ca/video/10695931/lo ... or-shower/

And, sadly, neither does Jason's Instagram post reveal the image capture details:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-ukg8oRhUn/

I would also like to see no links back to Instagram or other sites that require membership to see material.

Posted: **Sat Aug 17, 2024 2:56 pm**

Chris Peterson wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 2:03 pm
Eclectic Man wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 1:01 pm Lovely photograph. I have seen green aurora from Iceland, but sadly never red. And a beautiful Perseid meteor streak.

I am somewhat annoyed, however, by photographs, often beautiful in the selves which people genuinely believe show meteor tracks, but which, to me, look like satellite trails. The even brightness across the entire path is a clue, as should be the length of the tracks being exactly the same on the frame. I wonder whether someone could advise on a polite and gentle way to let people known their mistake, so as to avoid seeming aggressive, or somewhat of a 'know-it-all'? I don't what to hurt anyone's feelings or put them off astronomy.

Thanks in advance.
Honestly... if somebody gets "put off" of astronomy when it's pointed out that what they identify as a meteor might in fact be a satellite, they can't have been much into astronomy in the first place.

Umm, I was hoping for something a bit more positive and encouraging. What do you say to your students when they are upset about having made a mistake?

Posted: **Sat Aug 17, 2024 3:28 pm**

Eclectic Man wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2024 2:56 pm
Chris Peterson wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 2:03 pm
Eclectic Man wrote: ↑Fri Aug 16, 2024 1:01 pm Lovely photograph. I have seen green aurora from Iceland, but sadly never red. And a beautiful Perseid meteor streak.

I am somewhat annoyed, however, by photographs, often beautiful in the selves which people genuinely believe show meteor tracks, but which, to me, look like satellite trails. The even brightness across the entire path is a clue, as should be the length of the tracks being exactly the same on the frame. I wonder whether someone could advise on a polite and gentle way to let people known their mistake, so as to avoid seeming aggressive, or somewhat of a 'know-it-all'? I don't what to hurt anyone's feelings or put them off astronomy.

Thanks in advance.
Honestly... if somebody gets "put off" of astronomy when it's pointed out that what they identify as a meteor might in fact be a satellite, they can't have been much into astronomy in the first place.
Umm, I was hoping for something a bit more positive and encouraging. What do you say to your students when they are upset about having made a mistake?

I explain the mistake.

Starship Asterisk*

APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)

APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)

Re: APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)

Re: APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)

Re: APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)

Re: APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)

Re: APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)

Re: APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)

Re: APOD: Meteor Borealis (2024 Aug 16)