I Accidentally Photographed Something Unknown During the Eclipse - Smarter Every Day 298

• Inspired by Dr. Gordon Telepun in 2002 to appreciate total solar eclipses • Successfully captured ISS transiting the eclipse in Wyoming in 2017 • Created composite eclipse photo over Andes Mountains in Argentina in 2019

Dr. Telepun proposed shooting multiple eclipse photos on a single piece of slide film using a Mamiya RZ67 Pro camera, mirroring the technique used decades ago but with precision timing.

• Most cameras automatically advance film after each shot • Needed multi-shot mode capability to expose same film multiple times • Contacted camera experts Youhoe and Niko at kamera store in Finland for solution

Only one chance to focus, one chance to take 20+ shots, one chance to develop the film with no room for error.

• Met Dr. Telepun and his wife in Jackson, Missouri • Brought extended family including brother, mother-in-law, and father • Played Mario Kart the night before eclipse

Dr. Telepun set up teaching stations and had his son work with Destin's son on photography techniques; Destin's daughter conducted an indirect eclipse viewing experiment.

• Used Dr. Telepun's solar eclipse timer app for exact photo timing • Took photos every 10 minutes during partial phases, spaced to the second for proper alignment • Locked camera position after first photo to prevent any movement

• Observed shadow bands approaching totality • Had 4 minutes 9 seconds of totality to take photos and kiss wife • Witnessed Venus and Jupiter during totality

While reviewing 4K video footage, discovered an object flying across the sky at C3 (end of totality), appearing 5 seconds after sun came back.

• Bug: Would be just above the camera if true • Satellite: Would be high in the sky at orbital altitudes

Consulted Jonathan McDowell, satellite expert at planet4589.org, who calculated angular velocity and determined the object traveled at approximately 8 kilometers per second, consistent with low-orbiting satellite speed of 7.8 kilometers per second.

Speed was not inconsistent with satellite travel, but couldn't definitively rule out the bug hypothesis without additional evidence.

YouTuber Jeff Geerling happened to be stationed 130 meters away with his own camera, providing independent footage to verify the sighting.

• Corrected for camera sensitivity differences between two cameras • Adjusted angle by indexing off Bailey's beads for rotation alignment • Scaled footage to account for different zoom levels using Adobe Premiere

Object appeared in both cameras about 100 yards apart with a tenth-of-a-degree offset on solar disk, making it impossible to be a nearby bug unless it was 100,000+ feet away.

• Identified possible candidate: Starlink satellite 30323 (NORAD ID 57634) • Used orbital data from CelesTrak and simulation analysis • Satellite position data showed it was close but not exact match at eclipse moment

Drove film to Indie Film Lab in Montgomery, Alabama, terrified that tripod might have been bumped or shutter speed was incorrect during eclipse.

• Film successfully scanned using Noritsu scanner • All exposures were in focus and correct color • Ten partial phase shots plus totality shot all captured properly on single slide film

Dr. Telepun confirmed this was the best film sequence he'd ever seen, with 10 shots in a row nailed perfectly, a technique not done for approximately 30 years.

• Grateful for family participation in eclipse experience • Interested people are interesting - Dr. Telepun exemplifies genuine passion • Challenge to Space Force and orbital mechanics students to identify the mystery satellite