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I enjoyed reading the fascinating story of how a climber took an amazing long-exposure photo of his climb up, down and around a Peak District landmark.

See: "Blazing a trail! Climber takes spectacular light streak images during Peak District trek"

I don't doubt that he has produced a beautiful picture, but there is some alarm bells ringing in my head wondering if the light streaks were really created by his head-lamp as he performed his arduous journey.

So I'd appreciate if you could take a sceptical look at this image:

Light Trail

How long would it take to create an image of those stars that streak in that fashion and is it possible to travel the distance marked by the climber's headlamp in that time?

So are those lights the fleeting wisp of a hand torch, Photoshop or the climber's head lamp?

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As the stars would complete a full revolution in 24 hours can work out exactly how long the exposure was by measuring the angle the stars' arc subtends. In my phone I can't see enough detail to work it out, but that route doesn't look that long. – Rory Alsop Nov 15 '12 at 8:06
This may be challenging for the "no original research" policy. I look forward to seeing how that might be handled. – Oddthinking♦ Nov 15 '12 at 12:04
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@matt_black - I think it is closer to 10 degrees witch would give about 40 minutes. That is more possible I think. It is hard to judge with the view being toward the polar though so it distorts it. – Chad Nov 15 '12 at 14:49
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There are more details of the climb and the photography here - danarklephotography.yolasite.com/nightsoloing-at-stanage.php – Tom77 Nov 15 '12 at 15:18
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so that's 12 minutes then - 20m high climbs - yep, seems reasonable! – Rory Alsop Nov 15 '12 at 16:00
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