Meteor photography
Meteor photography uses a camera on a tripod taking long exposures of the sky to catch meteors by chance.
Meteor photography is a matter of patience and luck. Because you cannot predict where a meteor will appear, the trick is to point a camera at a large area of sky and take many long exposures, hoping some contain meteors.
Use a camera with manual settings, a wide-angle lens and a sturdy tripod. Set the focus to infinity, open the lens wide, choose a high sensitivity and take exposures of about 10 to 30 seconds one after another, using an intervalometer or the camera's built-in timer. Aim about 30 to 45 degrees from the radiant to catch longer trails. Keep spare batteries warm, as cold drains them quickly, and watch out for dew on the lens.
Later, scan through your images for streaks. Meteors are short and taper at both ends, while aircraft show blinking dotted lines and satellites leave steady lines. A good meteor photograph, especially with an accurate time, may also be useful to scientists studying fireballs.
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Level: Explorer Ages 10 and up