[meteorite-list] A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 17:57:39 -0500
Message-ID: <7D5788C8192D4EFC871EBDDEDB95C387_at_ATARIENGINE2>

Eric, Rob, Geozay, List,

My EXIF reader sez 59 seconds.

EXIF Sub IFD

    * Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) {0x829A} = 59/1 second ===> 59
second
    * Lens F-Number / F-Stop {0x829D} = 0/1 ===> f/0
    * Exposure Program {0x8822} = manual control (1)
    * ISO Speed Ratings {0x8827} = 1600
    * EXIF Version {0x9000} = 0221
    * Original Date/Time {0x9003} = 2010:05:19 04:06:43
    * Digitization Date/Time {0x9004} = 2010:05:19 04:06:43
    * Components Configuration {0x9101} = 0x01,0x02,0x03,0x00 / YCbCr
    * Shutter Speed Value (APEX) {0x9201} = -2147483648/1
      Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/0 second
    * Aperture Value (APEX) {0x9202} = -2147483648/1
      Aperture = f/0
    * Exposure Bias (EV) {0x9204} = 0/2 ===> 0
    * Metering Mode {0x9207} = pattern / multi-segment (5)
    * Flash {0x9209} = Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode
    * Focal Length {0x920A} = 0/1 mm ===> 0 mm
    [hex data omitted here]
    * FlashPix Version {0xA000} = 0100
    * Colour Space {0xA001} = sRGB (1)
    * Image Width {0xA002} = 3504 pixels
    * Image Height {0xA003} = 2336 pixels
    * Focal Plane X-Resolution {0xA20E} = 3504000/885 ===> 3959.32
    * Focal Plane Y-Resolution {0xA20F} = 2336000/590 ===> 3959.32
    * Focal Plane X/Y-Resolution Unit {0xA210} = inch (2)
    * Custom Rendered {0xA401} = normal process (0)
    * Exposure Mode {0xA402} = manual exposure (1)
    * White Balance {0xA403} = auto (0)
    * Scene Capture Type {0xA406} = standard (0)
    * Unknown tag, Tagnum 0xea1d {0xEA1D} = data ===> 0


Sterling K. Webb
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Meteorites USA" <eric at meteoritesusa.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife


> Hi Sterling, List,
>
> Calling the irregular wobbling or spinning meteoroid "suspect" seems
> to imply there's an overly complex explanation here? Forgive me. I'm
> not sure what "electrodynamic interaction" is, but physically speaking
> isn't the image explainable by an oblong or asymmetrical meteoroid
> tumbling through the atmosphere then twisting into a spiral by the
> aerodynamic forces exerted on it. Not unlike a curve-ball thrown by a
> pitcher?
>
> From my point of view it seems like a side on view of a spiral smoke
> train left by a weirdly shaped object entering our atmosphere that
> flipped and spiraled through the air. Am I reaching or is it too hard
> to believe that a space rock can spiral through the air upon entry and
> leave such a trail?
>
> The only question I had was the frame rate/shutter speed at which this
> image was captured... If the image frame was taken in 1/25 of a
> second, there a big difference in the elapsed time between a five
> minute exposure, which this image does not seem to be from. So I
> looked it up...
>
> The data from the image states:
> Canon EOS 20D
> Shutter Speed: 1.0 (meaning 1 second, not one minute) If it were one
> minute this would say "Bulb" if I remember correctly.
> Exposure Program: Manual
> F-Stop: f/0.0
> ISO: 1600
> No Flash
>
> This data suggests that it's not upper level winds dispersing the
> smoke. It does not seem like enough time in the 1 second the exposure
> was taken for winds to distort the smoke train such.
>
> If the camera/tripod was bumped or jarred during the exposure please
> explain why ALL the stars in the photo aren't "squiggly" too. Only the
> smoke train is.
>
> No offense to anyone, just my opinion of the image.
>
> Regards,
> Eric
>
>
>
>
>
> On 6/2/2010 2:29 PM, Sterling K. Webb wrote:
>> Ho,
>>
>> There is no 3-D to any flat image from a single
>> observation site. More properly, all we can say is
>> that the trail is "waved." Whether this is a side
>> view of a helix or a view of a flat wave cannot
>> be determined from one photograph.
>>
>> Clearly, the trail commences as straight and
>> increasingly acquires the "wave" in the portions
>> of the trail that are "older," that is, have interacted
>> with the upper atmosphere for a longer and longer
>> time at the moment the photo was taken.
>>
>> This clearly implies that the "wave" is induced by
>> a progressive interaction with the atmosphere. It
>> may be more of a "plasma" or electrodynamic
>> interaction than simple wind.
>>
>> The suggestion of an irregular or wobbling or spinning
>> meteoroid is suspect, as material shed with varying
>> lateral motion components would disperse into an
>> irregular pattern much closer to the "head" of the
>> trail than what is seen here.
>>
>>
>> Sterling K. Webb
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul H."
>> <oxytropidoceras at cox.net>
>> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 4:04 PM
>> Subject: [meteorite-list] A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife
>>
>>
>>> A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife
>>> Astronomy Picture of the Day, June 2, 2010
>>> http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap100602.html
>>>
>>> "Did this meteor take a twisting path? No one is sure.
>>> Considered opinions are solicited."
>>>
>>> APOD: A Twisted Meteor Trail Over Tenerife (2010 Jun 02)
>>> http://bb.nightskylive.net/asterisk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19638
>>> http://bb.nightskylive.net/asterisk/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=19638&sid=651816506a79643b02a83499866b4cdb&start=25
>>>
>>> Yours,
>>>
>>> Paul H.
>>> ______________________________________________
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>>
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Received on Wed 02 Jun 2010 06:57:39 PM PDT