Observation by Nick James: Forward scattering

Uploaded by

Nick James

Observer

Nick James

Observed

2019 Nov 11 - 13:47

Uploaded

2019 Nov 11 - 18:40

Objects

The Sun

Equipment

C6 + ASI294MC

Location

Chelmsford, UK

Target name

Forward scattering from MD-11 aircraft jet efflux

Title

Forward scattering

About this image

Not very astronomical but this is a detail from this transit image pushed to show the forward scattering from the jet efflux from the three engines. The port wingtip and horizontal stabilizer are visible against the efflux even though they are not in front of the Sun. The forward scattered light in this case is very bright, only about two magnitudes fainter than the photosphere, and this is why the tail and coma of sungrazer comets can become very bright if they have the correct geometry.

Files associated with this observation

MD11.jpg (106.9 kB)

Like this image

David Swan, Honor Wheeler, Jeremy Shears, Chris Hooker, Martin Crow, Mr Leonard Entwisle, Dr Paul Leyland, Andy Wilson, Chris Dole, Mr Michael Alan Frost, Andrew Dumbleton, Dean Ashton OBE, Peter Carson, Robin Leadbeater, Martina McGovern

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