ISS & Shuttle tonight - who's up for imaging it!?

I will be after something similar at, hopefully, 60 fps.

:shock:

Anto.
The race is on to be the first to image a spacewalker!
You just might do it!!!

Hi Frank,

As much as I would love to get such a result, we have an image scale problem. Doing some very quick calculations and assuming a close overhead pass of 400 km (not unrealistic at all), we have something around 1" for a 2m astronaut .... which means we need a focal length of around 3500mm such as Carl's C14 ... of course, the field of view would be excrutiating small but I do have a solution around that as well.

Hhhmmm, now you have me thinking ....

The race is on to be the first to image a spacewalker!

Ahh I might give anto a run for his money there. Tonight I made a big breakthrough. A while back I came across this program.

www.heavenscape.com/

Satellite Tracker works with all major brands of telescope celestron/meade etc. WIth the correcvt TLE (Two Line Elements) installed it will track any satellite with staggering precision.

I tried it out tonight on the later (lower pass of ISS/Atlantis) and if managed to keep it in the field of view 100% of the time.

SO heres how it went. Once the satellite is above the horizon and you click 'start tracking' the scope slewed off to an intercept point, once ISS crossed the point the scope started tracking it. At first it was behind my house, I was watching through the finder, once the finder cleared the house, I was gobsmacked to see ISS stationary in the finderscope and ALMOST perfectly centered. There is an option to use a gaming joystick to nudge the tracking a bit to improve centering. One nudge of the stick and ISS was on the crosshairs and thats where it stayed until the mount hit the meridian, then the scope slewed 360degrees and re-aquired ISS.

Unfortunately ISS was a little far away to discern too much detail on this pass, but I am chuffed that this worked so well. Satellite tracker is shareware and costs $29 to register, the evaluation allows 20 tracks before requiring registration, I just bought it!

I just can't wait to try this tomorrow on a better pass, (maybe even daylight) at 60fps. Oooh I hope there's a spacewalk tomorrow!!!

Hi Dave,

I was wondering what image scale you are working with? Also, be especially aggressive with the close overhead passes. The ISS ranges from between 350 and 1100 kilometers. Of course, you want the close overhead passes (350-400 km).

Also keep an eye when we have separation so that you can try and catch both the ISS and the Shuttle.

Anyway, go for it!!!!

Anthony,

These images were taken with my newt (10", 1009mm focal length). Now that I have the software running I plan to up the ante by using my 5" maksutov (f/l 1500mm possibly with a 2x barlow to take me to 3000mm)

Given that I was able to keep the iss centred throughout this evenings pass, I see no reason why this wont work. Unfortunately due to its inclination, ISS never passes directly overhead Dublin. However it often reaches 60degrees above the horizon.

Here's a frame which I spent a bit more time on, this was also closer to transit so the image scale was bigger.

Hi Dave,

The photo speaks for itself ... there is very little I could say or add. Simply stunning!

Best i could do tonight i'm afraid:

img531.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn1794kn8.flv

I'll do better next time, i promise.