Radio Galaxy Zoo Talk

ARG00000pe - meteor trail?

  • Dolorous_Edd by Dolorous_Edd

    Lame question, there is a satellite track in FOV but why it is in single color

    and has sort of knots along the trail? meteor?

    enter image description here

    enter image description here

    Posted

  • JeanTate by JeanTate

    I think it's because the satellite is 'tumbling' (actually more likely merely rotating), and because it reflects quite different amounts of light, depending on which part is facing the SDSS camera. The 'knots' may be when the solar panels (assuming it has any) are acting a bit like a mirror.

    Single colors are usually due to the satellite (or whatever) moving; however such colors should be red, green, or blue, not purple!

    Another possible explanation: it's a plane, and the knots are due to its navigation lights (though why the brightness varies so much otherwise would be hard to explain ...).

    Posted