A Fiery Visitor: Bright Green Meteor Streaks Through the Western Veil Nebula
Sometimes, the universe puts on a show you just can't predict. This incredible image captures just such a moment: a brilliant green meteor burning its way through our atmosphere, precisely in the direction of the iconic Western Veil Nebula.
This breathtaking capture was made possible by dedicated astrophotographer, who managed to snag this fleeting event during a 10-hour, 15-minute integration period. The meteor, a vibrant streak of light, passed through the frame of a relatively narrow field of view setup, adding an unexpected and spectacular element to the already awe-inspiring Veil Nebula (NGC 6960) and Pickering's Triangle (NGC 6979).
The photographer describes the meteor as burning up in our atmosphere without significant changes in brightness before disappearing out of frame. This kind of luck, combined with meticulous planning and execution, is what makes deep-sky astrophotography so rewarding.
The Technical Details Behind the Shot
Capturing such a moment requires not only patience but also a sophisticated understanding of equipment and processing. Here's a look at the setup and workflow that brought this image to life:
Equipment:
- Telescope: Sky-Watcher Quattro 200P
- Camera: Canon EOS 6D unmodified
- Mount: Sky-Watcher NEQ6 Pro
- Coma Corrector: Sky-Watcher Aplanatic
- Guide Scope: Orion 50mm Mini
- Guide Cam: ZWO ASI120MM Mini
- Software: APT, PHD2, EQMOD, PixInsight
Acquisition:
- Dates: 2024-08-27, 08-28
- Total integration: 10 hours 15 minutes
- Lights: 205 x 180s at ISO 1600
- Flats: 50
- Bias: 100
- Bortle 4
Processing:
- WeightedBatchPreprocessing
- MultiscaleGradientCorrection
- SpectrophotometricColorCalibration
- Applied color correction matrix for Canon 6D with PixelMath
- CorrectMagentaStars script
- BlurXTerminator
- DeepSNR
- StarXTerminator
- GeneralizedHyperbolicStretch
- CurvesTransformation with masks
- The single frame with the meteor was processed separately, star-aligned, and then composited into the main starless image in Photoshop.
- Stars were re-screened after separate stretching.
- StarReduction script
This image is a testament to the beauty that can be found when we look up, and the incredible capabilities of modern astrophotography. For more stunning images, be sure to check out the photographer's Instagram!
(This image was originally posted on Reddit's r/astrophotography)
