What is the mysterious purple-violet oval in the night sky?

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A user observed a mysterious purple-violet oval in their night sky photographs taken with varying exposure times. The object was not visible to the naked eye or through binoculars, leading to speculation about its nature. Initial thoughts suggested it could be a satellite or a reflection caused by the camera's optics. Further analysis indicated that the object's appearance might be due to internal lens reflections, with the purple color possibly resulting from lens coatings. Ultimately, the consensus leaned towards it being an optical artifact rather than a celestial object.
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Hello, everyone! Merely an hour ago (at 1:25 +11 GMT to be precise) I saw something in the pictures of the night sky that I took using my camera, using 15, 30 and 60 seconds exposure. (Some time passed between shots) The object that caught my eye is a purple-violet oval, or a thing that is moving above the central building in the middle.



---- 15 seconds exposure (camera slid a bit)


---- 30 seconds exposure


---- 60 seconds

I have to note, that I couldn't find the object in the sky with my binoculars, or see it with an unaided eye - It's onl seen in the pictures. Could it be something unknown, or just a simple reflection of light that got in camera?

By the way, the camera was facing West
 
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It's probably just an issue with light reflecting off the optics in a particular way, but I really can't say.
 
The images website is blocked where I'm at but, I'll take a guess and suggest that it might be a satellite. Take a look at this site to see what might have passed by your area recently - http://www.heavens-above.com. My first thought would be an Iridium satellite. They can be very bright but they only last a few seconds.
 
Looks to me like a reflection, satellites look completely different.
 
In the last two pictures, the elongated blob is oriented at different angles from the vertical, but in both cases it's perpendicular to a line that runs radially from the very bright light to the left. Therefore I also think it's an internal reflection in the lens. The purple color probably comes from coatings on the lens affecting different wavelengths differently.
 
I guess you guys are right, this is a reflection. Thanks for your help! :D
 
Borek said:
Looks to me like a reflection, satellites look completely different.
I can see it now from home. Yeah, that doesn't look like a satellite.
 
iridiumflare00.jpg
 
The sensitivity to infrared on a camera may be superior to the human eye.
 
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Generally digital color cameras are equipped with IR/UV cut filters for a host of different reasons. Their sensitivity to IR light should be zero.
 
  • #11
Being in the right place at the right time, I was able to get a clearer picture with my ultra high resolution camera:

superman.jpg
 

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