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Don Reed | all galleries >> Galleries >> Astrophotography > An asteroid in the constellation Taurus, captured while imaging the Crab Nebula
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16-JAN-2009

An asteroid in the constellation Taurus, captured while imaging the Crab Nebula

This image is a composite of 38 frames taken on 13-Jan-2009 and 15-Jan-2009. The small streak near the upper left corner appeared in the composite of twelve frames taken on the first night. The longer streak left of center appeared in the composite of 26 frames taken two nights later.

Upon examining the individual frames it became clear that the streaks were caused by a star-like object moving at a slow, steady speed. With the help of other amateur astronomers the object was identified as asteroid 270 Anahita, a 51 km "minor planet" orbiting the sun in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

The next image in this gallery is an animated GIF clearly showing the object as it moves through the field of view against a background of stationary stars.


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