Meteorite over Mapua

I took this shot tonight at about 6.30 while walking the dogs on the hills above Nelson.
Was most of the way through a 30 second exposure...one of a few I took ar different exposures to make a composite...hence the blown out area on the docks.

Saw the light appear moving quite slowly for a start and thought it was a plane turning to approach Nelson Airport. Then it sped up and got brighter, and I realised that it was on a totally different trajectory from the planes that approach from the north.

Then it flared brightly and started to disintegrate and then quickly disappeared behind the mountains...much to my relief as for a moment I had really thought it was a plane in trouble.

You can see the two brighter areas where pieces seemed to break off it, and the pale area st the top is obviously where it entered the earth's atmosphere. No way of telling if it was coming towards or away, but it was the brightest I've seen in many a year.

(Those mountains are at least 30 miles distant, and I was using the 24-70 2.8 at 60mm zoom. Pic is cropped losing maybe 1/3.)

Cool!

great catch

Awesome! That must have been a really good sized one, as that's quite visible even at that distance. It must have been the time of day and it's size, to help cause that coloring. Usually they are more solid in color (I've captured a few good green ones and a more blue one).

I think these are often referred to as "fireballs" but since this one exploded, it's a bolide. Awesome catch!

Wow, right place, right time. Great shot!!!

Ricardo222 wrote in post #14695720
I took this shot tonight at about 6.60 while walking the dogs on the hills above Nelson.
Was most of the way through a 30 second exposure...one of a few I took ar different exposures to make a composite...hence the blown out area on the docks.

Saw the light appear moving quite slowly for a start and thought it was a plane turning to approach Nelson Airport. Then it sped up and got brighter, and I realised that it was on a totally different trajectory from the planes that approach from the north.

Then it flared brightly and started to disintegrate and then quickly disappeared behind the mountains...much to my relief as for a moment I had really thought it was a plane in trouble.

You can see the two brighter areas where pieces seemed to break off it, and the pale area st the top is obviously where it entered the earth's atmosphere. No way of telling if it was coming towards or away, but it was the brightest I've seen in many a year.

(Those mountains are at least 30 miles distant, and I was using the 24-70 2.8 at 60mm zoom. Pic is cropped losing maybe 1/3.)

Fantastic Shot ! What you have actually captured is what is called an "Earth-Grazer"where it enters the Earth's atmosphere and leaves again. If it starts to break up in the atmosphere it can become an Earth-grazing meteor procession, and some fragments may impact the Earth . If i were you i would contact APOD (Astronomy Picture Of the Day) and submit it for public viewing . Once you make this gallery it stays in the archive forever ! Scroll to bottom of page for info how to submit . BTW i have seen 2 and never had a camera in hand so your VERY LUCKY for this chance to catch an Earth-Grazer !

http://apod.nasa.gov/a​pod/lib/about_apod.htm​l

Wednesday morning.
Thank you everyone for the comments and encouragement. Yes, it was pure luck having the camera part way through an exposure when something like that happened.

Todd Lambert wrote in post #14696246
Awesome! That must have been a really good sized one, as that's quite visible even at that distance. It must have been the time of day and it's size, to help cause that coloring. Usually they are more solid in color (I've captured a few good green ones and a more blue one).

I think these are often referred to as "fireballs" but since this one exploded, it's a bolide. Awesome catch!

Thanks Todd.

I always enjoy your night shots and it's been seeing your work and some others that has got me particularly interested in the night sky again.

As someone who navigated a yacht around the world by sun and stars with a sextant I have always been interested in the night sky...but the photography aspect is just recent.

Celestron wrote in post #14697350
Fantastic Shot ! What you have actually captured is what is called an "Earth-Grazer"where it enters the Earth's atmosphere and leaves again. If it starts to break up in the atmosphere it can become an Earth-grazing meteor procession, and some fragments may impact the Earth . If i were you i would contact APOD (Astronomy Picture Of the Day) and submit it for public viewing . Once you make this gallery it stays in the archive forever ! Scroll to bottom of page for info how to submit . BTW i have seen 2 and never had a camera in hand so your VERY LUCKY for this chance to catch an Earth-Grazer !

http://apod.nasa.gov/a​pod/lib/about_apod.htm​l

Thank you so much for the information. I will certainly follow up on that link. And I really appreciate the effort that you and others put into sharing your very specialised knowledge with those of us who are interested but new to the subject.