Starship Asterisk*

Again, shortly after being repaired, Siding Springs is showing black things very close to the camera. My first guess is that it's a moth, but it was largely still for the better part of an hour. Check out the archive http://nightskylive.net/sd/sd050401.html. There seems to have been quite a bit of crud on the lens/dome this night.

I'm giving this one a new name (Black Blob), because I don't think it's the same as the "Black Beast" we had a couple of weeks ago.

Boldra

I would definitely say that it is a moth, judging by its shape, but what's this?



It seems moth-shaped, but it's not actually an object on the lens unless it's transluscent. Notice that there are also two similar dots above and to the right of the main object. These suspcicious characters appeared only in two frames two hours earlier than the moth object. Are they possibly related?

It would appear translucent if it was only there for part of the exposure. See the "quantum cat" submitted during the "strange streak" discussion. http://asterisk.apod.com/vie ... m+cat#1895

There were two similar black marks last week when the other black object appeared. Not quite in the same place, but very similar. I think they're just muck on the lens. http://nightskylive.net/sd/sd050319/movie-sd050319.gif

Boldra

I'm inclined to agree with the moth theory.

I'll vote here for a moth. And I'l vote for the moth moving which caused a translucent effect over the 180 second exposure. Also I think I see some of the previously reported spider spots on the image, too. I think it must be bug season at Siding Spring Observatory!

- RJN