I need help to identify object, artefact?, on my photos! - Forums

Topic starter

Apr 16, 2023 · Edited: Apr 16, 2023

Hello everyone!

At first I didn't want to fool around and start this topic, but it doesn't give me peace.
7th April I set my telescope to polar alignment, then I wanted to check the settings so I set it to Polaris and made 5 sek. photo in luminescence. When I looked at the photo, I saw small cloud near the Polaris. I checked in Stellarium but there schould be nothing in that place, so I decidet to take some more photos in LRGB and Ha. Unfortunetly weather condition allowed me only to make 30x120s of Lum., 30x120s of Red, 5x120s of Green and 2x300s of Ha. When I started stacking it I saw that this object is moving and I stack it in comet mode in DeepSkyStacker. Becouse of times of photos exposure there is no way this is aeroplane,so I thought it is sattelite but didn't find any information about it(also it looks a little strange to be sattelite - becouse of the ring?) so the last think is to ask you for help to recognize what its could be (I also thought it is a filter flare, but it shouldn't move or appear in any of the filters?).

Below i present photos of the object:

Luminescence (30x120s stacked in DSS, comet mode, Pixinsight DBE, Noise and Blur Xterminator, stretched):

Zoom to object:

Single Lum 120s FIT file link

Red (30x120s stacked in DSS, comet mode, Pixinsight DBE, Noise and Blur Xterminator, stretched):

Zoom to object:

Single Red 120s FIT file link

Green (5x120s stacked in DSS, comet mode, Pixinsight DBE, Noise and Blur Xterminator, stretched):

Single Green 120s original fit file link

Zoom to object:

Ha (2x300s stacked in DSS, comet mode, Pixinsight DBE, Noise and Blur Xterminator, stretched):

Zoom to object:

Single Ha 300s original fit file link

Equipment used to take the photos:
- SkyWatcher Quattro-10S (250/1000)
- TS-Optics NEWTON Coma Corrector 1.0x TSGPU Superflat - 4-element - 2"
- ZWO ASI 1600MM Pro
- ZWO 1.25" filter wheel ZWO LRGBHa filters

I'm a newbie here, so please forgive me if I'm doing something stupid

Thanks in advance for any constructive help!

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jeffreycymmer

Apr 17, 2023

Check out https://minorplanetcenter.net//iau/mpc.htmlhttps://minorplanetcenter.net//iau/mpc.html

Dave Rust

Apr 17, 2023

Have you discounted the possibility that it's a lens flare from the bright star? A giveaway is that it is exactly the same distance from the center of the image, and in the opposite direction. I experience those from time to time.

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Rob7980

Apr 17, 2023

Dave Rust:
Have you discounted the possibility that it's a lens flare from the bright star? A giveaway is that it is exactly the same distance from the center of the image, and in the opposite direction. I experience those from time to time.

I think this is correct, it’s not moving with the star feild much so it’s likely internal to the optics, not something that’s far away.

Chris White- Overcast Observatory

Apr 17, 2023

Looks like a reflection.

Jared Willson

Apr 17, 2023

Yup, almost certainly a reflection somewhere in the optical train from Polaris. Then, as your stars move slightly from frame to frame (accumulated drift, dithering, whatever), it will be in a slightly different location with respect to the star field because Polaris moved. If you align your frames on Polaris (or the rest of the star field), the reflection will get blurry. If you align on the reflection, using "comet" mode, the rest of the star field gets blurry/streaked. It's just a reflection.

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Tomek Hyrnik

Topic starter

Apr 17, 2023 · Edited: Apr 18, 2023

Thanks to all of you guys for your answers! To be honest, I thought it may be an weather balloon or something like that, especially when I looked at red filter photography and saw the strange circle around something inside

However, considering Dave and Jared's explanation, I think you are right guys. I just need to examine where the reflection came from. I bet on a coma corrector or sensor glass shield on the camera…
Anyway, thanks once more for help, and I wish clear skies to you all!

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Chris White- Overcast Observatory

Apr 17, 2023

This is a reflection off the curved rear element of the corrector. That's why it is exactly positioned opposite of the bright star.

You may try flipping your filters to see if that eliminates it. Some filters are only AR coated on one side or its better on one side than the other.

Its possible you will need to live with it.

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Tomek Hyrnik

Topic starter

Apr 17, 2023

Chris White- Overcast Observatory:
This is a reflection off the curved rear element of the corrector. That's why it is exactly positioned opposite of the bright star.

You may try flipping your filters to see if that eliminates it. Some filters are only AR coated on one side or its better on one side than the other.

Its possible you will need to live with it.

Thank you for the tip Chris, I'll check it!