Images of the ISS - Sunday 20th October 7:23pm

michaeloconnell wrote: Here's my first attempt at taking images of the ISS through a scope. Gave it a go as it passed overhead earlier this evening (7:23pm).
Images taken with DMK41 and TEC140 refractor. No barlow used - must give it a try next time.

Hi Michael,

Well done on some great results. Imaging the ISS can be a lot of fun such a big build up, making sure all the equipment is set up and focused properly. Everything happens so quick when the ISS appears all hell breaks loose for two to three minutes.

One of the big problems you will encounter, as you said at a certain point the mount can no longer keep up with the ISS and you end up doing one hundred and one things with the joy pad. (Why does this happen) for starters the mount will be moving on its two access RA/DEC, the mount is pointing North and is set to 53 degrees. All of the above are perfect for imaging the night sky, but it makes life very difficult when imaging the ISS.

What I have found out through the years if you want to get those killer images and make tracking very simple. First thing you need is a dedicated mount that can track form east to west without having to perform an EQ flip, there are loads to these mounts out there on the market.

Procedure- let’s say the ISS is flying over at an altitude of 60 degrees. Your mount has an altitude adjustment from 0 to 90 degrees, so take away 60 degrees (ISS altitude at time of fly over) away from 90 the altitude on your mount. Your mount altitude is set to 30 degrees, the next step is you point the mount in the direction the ISS will be flying in from (not north) and by doing these simple things you will track the ISS perfectly and the mount will just track in the RA access.

Again Imaging the ISS is great fun and my steps above are only there if you want to get into it seriously.

Carl.

Thanks Carl.
What you're saying makes sense and ties in well with Thierry Legault's talk at COSMOS last year.
One question for you though re the polar position:
The ISS this evening will have a peak altitude of 49° and a bearing of 196° (SSW).
Am I correct in saying that the polar alignment of a scope (say alt-az scope on a wedge) would be pointed at 41° altitude and 16° azimuth?
i.e. altitude = 90° - 49° = 41°
azimimuth = 196° + 180° = 376° i.e. 16°
Thanks,
Michael.

Another one for you Carl:
Once you have the scope set up as described in my previous post, how do you get it to track the ISS at the correct speed?

Really sharp images there Michael. Tricky subject too.

michaeloconnell wrote: Thanks Carl.
What you're saying makes sense and ties in well with Thierry Legault's talk at COSMOS last year.
One question for you though re the polar position:
The ISS this evening will have a peak altitude of 49° and a bearing of 196° (SSW).
Am I correct in saying that the polar alignment of a scope (say alt-az scope on a wedge) would be pointed at 41° altitude and 16° azimuth?
i.e. altitude = 90° - 49° = 41°
azimimuth = 196° + 180° = 376° i.e. 16°
Thanks,
Michael.

Hi Michael,

Sorry for the delay in replying. Yes this is correct

michaeloconnell wrote: Another one for you Carl:
Once you have the scope set up as described in my previous post, how do you get it to track the ISS at the correct speed?

Since the telescope all aligned for imaging the ISS there is no reason why satellite tracker can’t keep up. Remember the only reason the mount couldn’t keep up was because of its angle and position in the first place. Here is a link for all the downloads www.webtreatz.com/index.php/tutorials/35...53-satellite-tracker

Again you only need the ISS in the FOV for a few seconds to get a really good image. My post above is a quick and easy way.

You can also go down the other route and go all in with Emmanuel Rietsch tracking system. ercs.electronique.perso.sfr.fr/Web/EqG_EN.htm but you are looking at around two grand for the modification and software depending on what mount you want to sacrifice. The guy does fantastic work and the results are spectacular.

Here is an image I got using satellite tracker and my AP1200. Not by far the best image in the world but one I was happy with.

Carl.

Thanks Carl.
I will download that software and see how it works.
As for spending 2k+, I think I'll hold off on that for now...

I didn't realise you used the Satellite Tracker software for those images.
My first efforts are well short of that.