Unusual Light Captured While Tracking Orion – February 25, 2025
I recently came across a fascinating video on YouTube showcasing an object that was unexpectedly caught in the frame during a long exposure shot of the night sky.
This event took place in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2025.
YouTube Description:
I headed out to test out my iOptron Skytracker Pro, a Christmas gift I hadn’t had much time to use due to the weather. Last night, I set up and began capturing 60-second exposures at 55mm in an attempt to gather enough images for stacking later. Unfortunately, clouds rolled in, and while playing around, I decided to do a timelapse—that’s when I noticed the intriguing light appearing in the sky.
The light is visible across 18 frames, indicating that it traveled that portion of the sky over approximately 18 minutes. I’m not sure what could be moving at such a slow pace; any insights would be greatly appreciated. It seems way too slow to be a plane, satellite, or even a meteorite.
Camera & Settings:
– Camera: Sony A7iii
– Lens: Sony 24-105mm G F/4.0
Shooting Settings:
– ISO: 640
– Exposure time: 60 seconds
– Focal Length: 55mm
– Aperture: F/8.0
All shots were tracked using the iOptron Skytracker Pro and a Benro Tripod.
That sounds like a fascinating observation! The long exposure capturing something unusual in the night sky can lead to some intriguing possibilities. Given the 18-minute duration of the light appearing across your shots, it does seem unlikely to be a typical airplane or satellite, as they usually move much faster across the sky.
Here are a few possibilities to consider:
Distant Aircraft or Heliplanes: Although you mentioned it seems too slow for a plane, keep in mind that a plane flying at a great distance could potentially appear to move more slowly across the sky during long exposures, especially if it was at a higher altitude and the position of the camera was capturing it at a particular angle.
Planet or Star Movement: Depending on the time and location, it’s also possible that what you’re seeing is a planet or bright star moving through the sky. However, most celestial objects would typically maintain a consistent path, so this could be less likely unless it was a particularly bright star or a planet moving into view.
Space Debris: Occasionally, objects re-entering the atmosphere can create visible trails, but these usually appear much more quickly than what you captured.
Atmospheric Phenomenon: Sometimes light can be distorted or reflected in unusual ways due to atmospheric conditions, leading to strange visual phenomena.
Drone or Man-made Light: Another possibility is that you might be observing a drone or some kind of artificial lighting moving slowly across the sky.
It would be interesting to analyze the footage further and see if any unique patterns emerge in the movement of the light. If you’re comfortable sharing, perhaps you could post some clips of the timelapse or the specific frames where the light appears – that could help in identifying what it might be. Happy stargazing and hope you get more clear nights to experiment with your new setup!