Bill W
@meteorbill.bsky.social
Professionally an engineer but an astronomer at heart with a PhD in meteor astronomy. Enjoys being out under the stars and dabbling with amateur radio.
Captured a remarkable 4 second+ meteor and its spectrum.
A lovely Type A with a strong persistent sodium train
youtu.be/bft7P31hTWQ
#science #astronomy #meteors @britastro.bsky.social @imometeors.bsky.social
A lovely Type A with a strong persistent sodium train
youtu.be/bft7P31hTWQ
#science #astronomy #meteors @britastro.bsky.social @imometeors.bsky.social
Long Duration Meteor with Spectrum
YouTube video by Bill W
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Captured a remarkable 4 second+ meteor and its spectrum.
A lovely Type A with a strong persistent sodium train
youtu.be/bft7P31hTWQ
#science #astronomy #meteors @britastro.bsky.social @imometeors.bsky.social
A lovely Type A with a strong persistent sodium train
youtu.be/bft7P31hTWQ
#science #astronomy #meteors @britastro.bsky.social @imometeors.bsky.social
The run up to the Perseid peak was not good. However last night I got one good fireball spectrum showing the typical characterisitics of the Perseids. Strong ionised Ca and ionised Si and H emission.
#science #astronomy
#science #astronomy
August 13, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The run up to the Perseid peak was not good. However last night I got one good fireball spectrum showing the typical characterisitics of the Perseids. Strong ionised Ca and ionised Si and H emission.
#science #astronomy
#science #astronomy
August 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Some nice #noctilucentclouds last night seen from North Ayrshire. If you see #NLC post your pictures and observations on the NLC Observers Forum ed-co.net/nlcnet/
June 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Some nice #noctilucentclouds last night seen from North Ayrshire. If you see #NLC post your pictures and observations on the NLC Observers Forum ed-co.net/nlcnet/
The power of spectroscopy! two lovely bright meteors (fireballs?) that look pretty much the same to the eye but...
Turns out they are completely different. The first is made of rock the second pure iron! #astronomy #meteors #fireballs
Meteor 1 is Type A, meteor 2 is type B.
Turns out they are completely different. The first is made of rock the second pure iron! #astronomy #meteors #fireballs
Meteor 1 is Type A, meteor 2 is type B.
April 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The power of spectroscopy! two lovely bright meteors (fireballs?) that look pretty much the same to the eye but...
Turns out they are completely different. The first is made of rock the second pure iron! #astronomy #meteors #fireballs
Meteor 1 is Type A, meteor 2 is type B.
Turns out they are completely different. The first is made of rock the second pure iron! #astronomy #meteors #fireballs
Meteor 1 is Type A, meteor 2 is type B.
The observers in the UKMON network caught the Type B Fe meteor and determined an orbit.
Low inclination of 10 degrees and very slow at 10.6km/sec. Plot courtesy of the UKMON data base (Thanks UKMON!).
Orbit indicates probable asteroidal origin. #astronomy #meteors @europlanetmedia.bsky.social
Low inclination of 10 degrees and very slow at 10.6km/sec. Plot courtesy of the UKMON data base (Thanks UKMON!).
Orbit indicates probable asteroidal origin. #astronomy #meteors @europlanetmedia.bsky.social
February 28, 2025 at 10:27 PM
The observers in the UKMON network caught the Type B Fe meteor and determined an orbit.
Low inclination of 10 degrees and very slow at 10.6km/sec. Plot courtesy of the UKMON data base (Thanks UKMON!).
Orbit indicates probable asteroidal origin. #astronomy #meteors @europlanetmedia.bsky.social
Low inclination of 10 degrees and very slow at 10.6km/sec. Plot courtesy of the UKMON data base (Thanks UKMON!).
Orbit indicates probable asteroidal origin. #astronomy #meteors @europlanetmedia.bsky.social
A beautiful night and quite a rare capture. A lovely Type B pure iron meteor spectrum #astronomy #meteor #fireball
The iron lines are very prominent in the blue/green part of the spectrum and the yellow/orange part is mostly thermal emission with fewer discrete lines.
The iron lines are very prominent in the blue/green part of the spectrum and the yellow/orange part is mostly thermal emission with fewer discrete lines.
February 27, 2025 at 12:21 PM
A beautiful night and quite a rare capture. A lovely Type B pure iron meteor spectrum #astronomy #meteor #fireball
The iron lines are very prominent in the blue/green part of the spectrum and the yellow/orange part is mostly thermal emission with fewer discrete lines.
The iron lines are very prominent in the blue/green part of the spectrum and the yellow/orange part is mostly thermal emission with fewer discrete lines.
Another super high res meteor spectrum. Zero order video is here youtu.be/dEdURA38M9o?...
First time I've managed to fully resolve the Mg Triplet!
#meteors #fireballs
First time I've managed to fully resolve the Mg Triplet!
#meteors #fireballs
January 17, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Another super high res meteor spectrum. Zero order video is here youtu.be/dEdURA38M9o?...
First time I've managed to fully resolve the Mg Triplet!
#meteors #fireballs
First time I've managed to fully resolve the Mg Triplet!
#meteors #fireballs
Time to put the lights on my big dish antenna... happy winter solstice. #astronomy #hamradio
... and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too.
... and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too.
December 21, 2024 at 11:31 PM
Time to put the lights on my big dish antenna... happy winter solstice. #astronomy #hamradio
... and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too.
... and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too.
...and another two... #geminidmeteorshower #astronomy #planetaryscience #meteors #fireballs #skyandtelescope
December 16, 2024 at 11:47 AM
...and another two... #geminidmeteorshower #astronomy #planetaryscience #meteors #fireballs #skyandtelescope
The article in S+T says 80% of Geminids are sodium free and my spectrum is unusual. I think this is a myth! I've NEVER captured any Geminid spectrum that has been completely sodium free! #geminidmeteorshower A few from this year..., all with sodium emission (Na)! #astronomy #planetaryscience
December 16, 2024 at 11:38 AM
The article in S+T says 80% of Geminids are sodium free and my spectrum is unusual. I think this is a myth! I've NEVER captured any Geminid spectrum that has been completely sodium free! #geminidmeteorshower A few from this year..., all with sodium emission (Na)! #astronomy #planetaryscience
... and since the weather had been so miserable I decided to try some #meteorscatter on UHF.
At 432MHz, MS its more difficult the EME nowadays! Managed to QSO with SM6FHZ at 1044km and OK1TEH at 1439km. Took 2h 5m to complete with 6FHZ and 1h 35m for 1TEH!😮
#hamradio #amateurradio
At 432MHz, MS its more difficult the EME nowadays! Managed to QSO with SM6FHZ at 1044km and OK1TEH at 1439km. Took 2h 5m to complete with 6FHZ and 1h 35m for 1TEH!😮
#hamradio #amateurradio
December 15, 2024 at 8:42 AM
... and since the weather had been so miserable I decided to try some #meteorscatter on UHF.
At 432MHz, MS its more difficult the EME nowadays! Managed to QSO with SM6FHZ at 1044km and OK1TEH at 1439km. Took 2h 5m to complete with 6FHZ and 1h 35m for 1TEH!😮
#hamradio #amateurradio
At 432MHz, MS its more difficult the EME nowadays! Managed to QSO with SM6FHZ at 1044km and OK1TEH at 1439km. Took 2h 5m to complete with 6FHZ and 1h 35m for 1TEH!😮
#hamradio #amateurradio
After miserable weather, it cleared for just a couple of hours and luckily right at the peak of the Geminid meteor shower!🙂
Caught about 30 Geminids and this gorgeous spectrum of a Geminid fireball on HiReMS. #astronomy #meteors #fireball #geminidmeteorshower #planetaryscience
Caught about 30 Geminids and this gorgeous spectrum of a Geminid fireball on HiReMS. #astronomy #meteors #fireball #geminidmeteorshower #planetaryscience
December 15, 2024 at 8:16 AM
After miserable weather, it cleared for just a couple of hours and luckily right at the peak of the Geminid meteor shower!🙂
Caught about 30 Geminids and this gorgeous spectrum of a Geminid fireball on HiReMS. #astronomy #meteors #fireball #geminidmeteorshower #planetaryscience
Caught about 30 Geminids and this gorgeous spectrum of a Geminid fireball on HiReMS. #astronomy #meteors #fireball #geminidmeteorshower #planetaryscience
Fame at last...!? 😉😂 Some of my meteor spectra have been used to illustrate an article in Decembers Sky and Telescope!
#astronomy #planetaryscience #meteors #fireballs
#astronomy #planetaryscience #meteors #fireballs
December 9, 2024 at 10:44 PM
Fame at last...!? 😉😂 Some of my meteor spectra have been used to illustrate an article in Decembers Sky and Telescope!
#astronomy #planetaryscience #meteors #fireballs
#astronomy #planetaryscience #meteors #fireballs
@bot.astronomy.blue signup
Captured a gorgeous full visible range #fireball spectrum this evening on a HiReMS system. Classic Type A, with strong Mg and Na lines. #meteors @royalastrosoc.bsky.social
@aasoffice.bsky.social @skyandtelescope.bsky.social
Just beautiful!☄️😃
Captured a gorgeous full visible range #fireball spectrum this evening on a HiReMS system. Classic Type A, with strong Mg and Na lines. #meteors @royalastrosoc.bsky.social
@aasoffice.bsky.social @skyandtelescope.bsky.social
Just beautiful!☄️😃
December 3, 2024 at 12:45 AM
@bot.astronomy.blue signup
Captured a gorgeous full visible range #fireball spectrum this evening on a HiReMS system. Classic Type A, with strong Mg and Na lines. #meteors @royalastrosoc.bsky.social
@aasoffice.bsky.social @skyandtelescope.bsky.social
Just beautiful!☄️😃
Captured a gorgeous full visible range #fireball spectrum this evening on a HiReMS system. Classic Type A, with strong Mg and Na lines. #meteors @royalastrosoc.bsky.social
@aasoffice.bsky.social @skyandtelescope.bsky.social
Just beautiful!☄️😃
Despite the full moon, the Leonid meteor shower has produced some good results.
I captured this unusual spectrum this morning. 😃
It has been identified as a Leonid thanks to the reports on the UKMON website.👍
Lots of interesting lines to be investigated...
I captured this unusual spectrum this morning. 😃
It has been identified as a Leonid thanks to the reports on the UKMON website.👍
Lots of interesting lines to be investigated...
November 18, 2024 at 5:10 PM
Despite the full moon, the Leonid meteor shower has produced some good results.
I captured this unusual spectrum this morning. 😃
It has been identified as a Leonid thanks to the reports on the UKMON website.👍
Lots of interesting lines to be investigated...
I captured this unusual spectrum this morning. 😃
It has been identified as a Leonid thanks to the reports on the UKMON website.👍
Lots of interesting lines to be investigated...
Here's a synthetic colourised spectrum of the fireball image I posted. Spans ~420nm to 591nm. Incredible detail! Most of the lines here are from iron atoms. #fireballs #meteors
November 15, 2024 at 7:18 PM
Here's a synthetic colourised spectrum of the fireball image I posted. Spans ~420nm to 591nm. Incredible detail! Most of the lines here are from iron atoms. #fireballs #meteors
Hello Bluesky! I'm an astronomer in Scotland. Here's the most detailed spectrum of a meteor ever captured! Very lucky catch and incredibly detailed. #meteors #fireball @aasoffice.bsky.social
November 15, 2024 at 12:02 PM
Hello Bluesky! I'm an astronomer in Scotland. Here's the most detailed spectrum of a meteor ever captured! Very lucky catch and incredibly detailed. #meteors #fireball @aasoffice.bsky.social