Meteors, tau Herculid
Taken by Jack Jewell on May 31, 2022 @
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Click photo for larger image
| |
Camera Used: SONY ILCE-7RM2
Exposure Time: 32/10
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO: 3200
Date Taken: 2022:05:31 14:13:42
|
|
| More images
Details:
Possible meteor storms are familiar to me since a Comet Beila possibility in the early 1970’s. We saw 3 within a few minutes and got very excited, then nothing. But prediction knowledge and tools have improved, and if it’s a zero, an evening under the stars with a spice of excitement is a good thing. Set up between Boulder and Denver Colorado USA with clear skies and ample light pollution, my camera shot from a tripod continuously for 70 minutes. Cursory inspection of the 1,300 frames yielded 25 tau Herculids, all much(!) on the brighter side for meteors. One fourth of those meteors were within 4 1/2 minutes (04:18:04 to 04:22:38 UT), including those in the first two photos, radiating remarkably closely from the predicted radiant. Accolades and congratulations to those who generated the predictions! In the first shot, the meteor far outshines 0-mag orange Arcturus on the far left, despite the star providing the full 3.2sec exposure while the meteor lit up for far less time. None of the 25 meteors were cut off by the start or finish of the exposures, implying durations well-below 3.2sec. 1minute 45seconds later, the 2nd shot was taken, showing strong remnants of the 1st meteor, and another point-like meteor, just above-right from, and brighter than, Arcturus. The last 2 photos are from adjacent 3.2sec frames – just left of Arcturus, similar brightness, and one almost brushing Arcturus. Alas, I did not visually witness any of these meteors. I was practicing nearby with my telescope for an upcoming Trojan asteroid occultation (Lucy mission target), but outside these activities I occasionally looked up and witnessed a brilliant near-fireball originating from near Arcturus.
Details: Sony A7R II with Sony 14mm GM f/1.8, ISO 3200, Exposure 3.2sec. Modest crop on the first 2, strong crop on second two. Times are UT.
Photographer's website:
No URL provided.
|
|
|
