FMO (Fast Moving Object) in foreground of NGC891 core.

While imaging NGC 891 on the evening of Dec. 3rd, a stellar-like object
moved in front of the core of NGC 891. Twelve images were taken in all
and these 3 images are to show the object (middle frame) and the before
and after frames. Object does not appear in any other image. The frame
showing the object was taken at 8:04pm MST (03:04UT 04-DEC-2005). All
images are 8 minute single exposures with a 10 second interval.
Telescope - TEC APO 140 (5.5 in./980mm f/7 refractor), no reducer or
flattener. No darks or flats. Baader UV/IR filter. Camera - Canon Rebel
XT, IR filter removed.

http://www.pbase.com/wjshaheen/fmo_in_ngc891

Interesting, at least. Comments welcome.

Bill Shaheen
Gold Canyon, AZ

wrote:
While imaging NGC 891 on the evening of Dec. 3rd, a stellar-like object
moved in front of the core of NGC 891. Twelve images were taken in all
and these 3 images are to show the object (middle frame) and the before
and after frames. Object does not appear in any other image. The frame
showing the object was taken at 8:04pm MST (03:04UT 04-DEC-2005). All
images are 8 minute single exposures with a 10 second interval.
Telescope - TEC APO 140 (5.5 in./980mm f/7 refractor), no reducer or
flattener. No darks or flats. Baader UV/IR filter. Camera - Canon Rebel
XT, IR filter removed.

http://www.pbase.com/wjshaheen/fmo_in_ngc891

Interesting, at least. Comments welcome.

Bill Shaheen
Gold Canyon, AZ


No proof of motion... two objects?

Fist image shows tracking problems. All the stars show a clear but
minor 10 o'clock elongation.

Stars are round on the second and third images.Tightest on the second.
Focussing variations?

Your light track on the second image is resolved into 4 clearly
seperated round images if you enlarge the image. This suggests a
distant tumbling object with variable reflectivity I think. Or a
distant blinking object.

Chris.B

Chris.B wrote:
Fist image shows tracking problems. All the stars show a clear but
minor 10 o'clock elongation.

Stars are round on the second and third images.Tightest on the second.
Focussing variations?

Your light track on the second image is resolved into 4 clearly
seperated round images if you enlarge the image. This suggests a
distant tumbling object with variable reflectivity I think. Or a
distant blinking object.

Chris.B

Edit: I meant to add that the trajectory of the object is not straight
but curves slightly upwards on the second image. The end of the track
is interesting. Seeming to curve steeply downwards and form a
fan-shaped spray of light towards the core. None of this appears on the
first or third images.

Do you have a larger second image we can look at to confirm this? :-)

No, unfortunately I do not have a larger second image. But, I agree,
based on it's behavior (the strange "S" pattern and the blinking
apearance), it is more than likely a piece of tumbling debris in earth
orbit. (By the way, it is definitely NOT a cosmic ray hit.)

Was hoping someone would have an image from the same timeframe.

Thanks.

Bill