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Took some images of the ISS (with Discovery docked) pass tonight from Talking Rock, GA. The first ones are a bit off level because the camera was "piggybacked" on my 6" reflector on an equatorial mount. I did that so as not to get any star trails. I'm going to rotate and crop them in a bit, but I also like these as they show a wide angle. The last two are the best and capture the ISS at it's brightest. There are a couple mysterious objects in there as well. The light polution is from the town of East Ellijay, about 8 miles to the north.
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Tags: iss sts-119 discovery || 0 comments
CalSky.com has added STS-119 (Space Shuttle Discovery) and the Kepler satellite to their database. To find sighting opportunities in your area, go to http://www.calsky.com, enter your location and store using your email address. Once you have your location setup you can view a list of passes by using the following links.
Kepler:http://www.calsky.com/csephem.cgi?&object=Satellite&number=34380
STS-119:http://www.calsky.com/csephem.cgi?&object=Satellite&number=99999
For me there are passes this evening of both satellites, but the clouds are thick. If you happen to use this info and are able to capture any passes, please let me know and I will be sure to post here.
[stephen]
Tags: iss nasa kepler sts-119 discovery calsky || 0 comments
Finally captured the ISS crossing the disk of the sun this morning at 8:10 am over the north Georgia mountains, about 20 miles east of Talking Rock, GA. Here's an animation of four images.
Click here to view large image >>
And single frames...Medium || Large Medium || Large Medium || Large Medium || Large
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Check out this wonderful capture of the ISS by Twitter Micro-blogger and Amateur Astronomer TaviGreiner. The image shows the ISS captured from coastal NC as it passed just under Venus on the 5th of this month. She's put a great deal of time into mapping out the constellations and star names captured in the image as well, which is a real treat to view.
The full image gives the best view.
Tags: iss astrpphotography venus || 0 comments
OK, so I printed out some detailed information from CalSky.com and set out around 4:00 pm today on a 10 mile trip through the mountains of northern Georgia. I reached the area where I had found a logging road going straight through the centerline of the ISS as it was to pass the disk of the moon. I had to hike around 400 yards up the side of a hill, carrying my 50 lb. 6" reflector and a backpack with my camera gear and accessories.
I had the scope leveled with a rough polar alignment (used a compass to align as true north as I could), motor drive attached and tracking the moon, and the Nikon D40 attached with 30 minutes to spare. I took the following picture to show the setup and surroundings.
So, after taking the image above I set myself in front of the scope and watched the clock. Around 2 minutes before the scheduled pass I started to take some images to test for exposure and focus. Unfortunately, when the time came for the pass I hesitated for just a second or two and zoooooom! I could see a streak of white light shoot out from the moon and out of the viewfinder in a millisecond. Man, the ISS is really moving!
So, I knew I didn't capture the ISS crossing the moon, but I thought I might have got it when I saw the streak of light through the viewfinder. I drove all the way back to the cabin in a rather sad mood. I didn't expect it to happen that fast. I don't know why though, CalSky.com says the transit is 1.02 seconds. Doh! Anyway, at least I captured the following image, and I now know that it would be best to capture this with video or let the continuous mode roll for 30 seconds or so before the transit time, which is what I had planned.
Here's the ISS just after passing the moon:Medium || Large
Also, it looks like I have a chance to capture the ISS crossing the disk of the sun on Sunday. Stay tuned for updates on that!
Stephen
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According to CalSky.com I will have the opportunity to capture the ISS as it crosses in front of the moon tomorrow afternoon around 5:45 PM. The center line is within 10 miles from our cabin in the mountains of north Georgia, so I am planning for my first attempt at capturing the event live using my Celestron Omni XLT 150mm reflector with a Celestron Omni 2x barlow and Nikon D40 at prime focus.Here's a screen shot (dual monitors) of the most excellent information on the CalSky.com site, including a Google Earth kmz file they provide for free.
Medium || LargeI will post an update tomorow night if I actually capture the event. Weather man says clear skies, so keep your fingers crossed for me! ;-)
Captured the ISS tonight as it passed near the mountains of northern Georgia. The animation is made from a series of four second exposures.
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Just captured the ISS as it passed over Talking Rock, GA, in the mountains of northern Georgia. Was a bit cloudy, but I think it turn out OK. Notice the Pleiades right next to the moon. ;)
Best to view the large image.
Tags: moon iss astrpphotography pleiades || 0 comments
Had a great opportunity to image the ISS as it flew Mobile, AL over tonight. It was an awesome sight, all the way from one horizon to the other. I was able to take a shot through my 6" reflect with Nikon D40. It's not much to look at with a 6" reflector, but it's was fun to image in any case.
Think of it like this, the ISS is around 120 yards (let's say a football field) in width and about 220 miles altitude. Imagine trying to watch a football game from 220 miles away, and the football field is moving at 17,500 miles per hour!
Here's the original image.
Tags: iss astrpphotography || 0 comments
