Linear Motion
by Ralf Rohner
Title
Linear Motion
Artist
Ralf Rohner
Medium
Photograph
Description
Many people are astonished that it is possible to capture the Milky Way from a fast moving airplane without star trails. What they are not aware of, is the fact that the speed of the aircraft (linear motion) is irrelevant, due to the huge distance of the stars. Not even the much faster velocity of earth moving through space has an impact.
It is earth rotation (angular motion) that causes star trails. When flying westward, star trailing is even reduced by roughly 50%, as it has the same effect as tracking the stars at half speed.
On the other hand, most people are well aware that camera shake destroys any astrophotography. Unfortunately my 300'000 kg flying camera mount is very prone to turbulence and aerodynamic oscillations. It therefore does not happen very often that I am able to capture a sequence that allows stacking. Luckily there is an exception from time to time: Thanks to a really smooth ride during this flight over Norh Africa, I was able to stack 10 exposures. The lights on ground show the fast linear motion that leaves the stars totally unimpressed.
Uploaded
September 3rd, 2019
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Viewed 531 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/17/2024 at 11:35 AM
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Comments (1)
Allan Van Gasbeck
Congratulations! Your outstanding artwork has been chosen as a FEATURE in the “Long Exposure and Night Photography ” group on Fine Art America — You are invited to post your featured image to the featured image discussion thread as a permanent place to continue to get exposure even after the image is no longer on the Home Page. This is really quite remarkable Ralf. Well done.