Confused. Is it a galaxy or a green glowstick?

• by Sungamr

  I just created an account and tested to classify a few galaxies and they all looked very "galaxy", until i got this image. What am I looking at here?

  Posted October 7, 2012 11:24 PM

• by ElisabethB moderator

  Hiya,
  This is a satellite trail. Because the sunlight gets reflected off the satellite and because it moves really fast it only gets caught in one filter (usually green, but red and blue ones are possible too)

  Posted October 7, 2012 11:28 PM

• by Sungamr

  Oh, thank you. Everyday that I learn something new is a good day.

  Posted October 8, 2012 12:59 AM

• by Jeshyr

  I found a great list of common artifacts and non-galaxy things here which helped me:

  http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=276702.0

  Posted October 8, 2012 2:10 AM