Taurid Meteor Fireball?

Upload your images | Login | FAQ | Contact the Webmaster | Home

Taurid meteor fireball?
Taken by Ian Carstairs on November 2, 2018 @ Harleston, Norfolk, UK

Click photo for larger image

Camera Used: Canon Canon EOS 7D
Exposure Time: 200/10
Aperture: f/inf
ISO: 6400
Date Taken: 2018:11:03 09:57:43

More images

Details:

I was testing my new home-built skycam and trying to overcome the dew challenge (as yet unsuccessfully), but still captured the event through the condensation. c. 4.00 UTC. Canon EOS7D open shutter, Samyang 8mm ISO 6400 Photoshop dehazing.

Photographer's website:

No URL provided.

Comments

You must be logged in to comment.

Hi Ian,
The Samyang 8mm is a great fisheye choice for all-sky fireball photography. It is the only fisheye that approximates to a stereographic prjection, which means the constellations dont appear squashed near the horizon and you get far better detail on distant fireballs which are quite far from overhead.

To clear up dew, I have used the element from an old hair-dryer, connected to 12 volts rather than 230 volts (UK). This gives much lower heat, just a few watts inside a small enclosure. The lens peeps out of a hole in the top, with a small air gap to allow the warmed air to gently rise around the lens surface. This has kept dew at bay on even the most brutal Scottish nights. A small patch of condensation often forms on the underneath surface of the top element though. The Samyang is surprisingly waterproof, mine has survived many sudden showers and has even been OK after the odd night when I went to bed and it rained.

Get yourself an intervalometer - my cheap generic Canon one has lasted faultlessly for 4 years. I also recommend stopping down one stop to f5.6. The image is a bit soft at f3.5. Also do a critical focus test - mine was factory set with infinity at around 7 feet and for astro you want to get this right. Do some shots at different focus settings and pick the sharpest. If you suspect the best focus is beyond infinity you can re-set the infinity point by taking off the rubber grip and loosening a couple of srews. With these tweaks it performs as well as fisheyes 3 times the price and with better horizon performance.

I get my best balance of speed and image quality at 800 ISO with 5 minute exposures for moonless rural skies, all the way down to 100 ISO on full Moon. Its surprising how much can still be picked out even with the Moon close in the sky - the lens has excellent flare characteristics.

Nice fireball shot mate, good luck, patience, and I hope you get many more to follow!

Posted by obsywobsy 2018-11-05 06:26:46

previous | next

Home | FAQ | Contact the Webmaster