How would a typical asteroid appear on a time exposure photograph of the sky as it orbited the Sun if the camera were tracking the background stars?
A) The asteroid would look like a star, a small extra dot not shown on star charts of this area of the sky.
B) The asteroid would look like a small, diffuse patch against the sharp images of stars because of the dust and gas surrounding it.
C) The asteroid would produce a flash of light as it crossed the field of view of the camera.
D) The asteroid would produce a short trail as it moved slowly against the background stars.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Asteroids move relative to the background stars. When a camera tracks the stars, making them appear as points of light, an asteroid will leave a trail on the photograph due to its motion during the exposure time.

How Would a Typical Asteroid Appear on a Time Exposure