ISS Crosses the Sun - Brisbane, 9 April, 3.44pm - Image...just!

[Matt Wastell]

Hi all

I think I have this right.

The ISS crosses the disc of the Sun at 3.44pm, Tuesday 9th April 2013

Here is the centre line

http://www.calsky.com/?Transitline=&showhome=&obs=72974999163216&tdt=2456391.74012723&sat=25544&interval=0.00011574&step=0.00000231&mainbody=0

If you are good with calsky, please confirm.

I managed to get 15 frames with the ISS through the LS60 and DMK51 - conditions were awful - rain literally up to the event from the Mt Gravatt lookout - I did not even have time to get good focus or tuning but hey, I got it. Here is an early pic!

[Matt Wastell]

I have found the perfect spot - near centre line - Mt Gravatt Lookout - just hope I have the time right!?

[batema]

Just a question how wide would the path be for you to see the transit?

[von Tom]

Nice one Matt. The time and path is correct. It's nearly right over my house but I'm at work :(
The path is about 14 wide, 7km either side of the centreline

[johnnyt123]

Oh come on....

Someone has to get a shot of this....

Anybody?

[Matt Wastell]

I will be trying! Weather not great in Brisbane though!

[Dennis]

Hi Matt

Thanks for the heads up. I don’t think that I’ll be planning to set up after my last clouded out effort (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=104762). The forecast and general outlook look worse than the last time!

Good luck if you are any other brave soul attempts it – it looks a good pass, a full 1.2 seconds!:)

Cheers

Dennis

[von Tom]

You only need that 1 second to be clear in that part of the sky ;) Good luck!

[Dennis]

Hmm, my wife just ‘phoned me and said there is 100% cloud cover and heavy rain in the Mt Gravatt area right now (3:00pm)…:sadeyes:

Cheers

Dennis

[sheeny]

Good luck, Matt!

Al.

[Dennis]

Well, I got sucked in, rushed home, grabbed the gear and set up in a local park.:D

Just as I had set up it rained on me but as I had packed the scope covers that was but a mild inconvenience. As the seconds approached I just got a slight clearing in the clouds so I could make a quick attempt at focusing and then immediately hit the “Record” button (twice) and managed to grab the ISS in 15 frames.

I have a new name for this past time: “Just-in-time, rapid set-up, extreme imaging”.:P

Not as good as my last effort (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=108252), but at least I got something.:shrug:

As expected, 1 minute after transit, the clouds cleared for a few minutes…:(

Cheers

Dennis

[sheeny]

:bowdown::bowdown:

Dennis!

Al.

[Paul Haese]

Every time I get a center line notification it is at willunga hills and on private property. You guys seem to strike it lucky in Brisbane. Nice going Dennis despite the cloud.

[Peter Ward]

Not picture perfect...but well worth the effort. Nice one.

:thumbsup:

[RB]

You never cease to amaze me Dennis.

:)

[Derek Klepp]

Dennis those clouds add to the effect great capture.Have you got a WL closeup of that big spot yet?

[John Hothersall]

Clouds don't phase you, well done Dennis.

John.

[Matt Wastell]

Great to see you got it Dennis - it was a rough and ready session - I thought I was going to get soaked from all directions!

[johnnyt123]

100 points for effort.
Well done mate.

Too bad the weather didn't cooperate.
But well done

[h0ughy]

:thumbsup: :bowdown: :bowdown: :2thumbs: :cool: :sunny:

[h0ughy]

great stuff:thumbsup:

[Dennis]

Great results Matt, that is an amazing capture given the awful conditions and zero preparation time between the rain ending and the show beginning!:thumbsup:

Cheers

Dennis

[von Tom]

Well done Matt and Dennis! That's the spirit! :)

[multiweb]

Good catch Dennis. :thumbsup:

[RB]

Excellent Matt, well done, especcially with those terrible conditions !

:)

[pluto]

Excellent, well done! :D

[asimov]

Onya Matt.

[allan gould]

Excellent effort and images from Matt and Dennis

[Solar]

Try bribing the owners Paul. :P

[Solar]

Well Done Matt.
:cool:

[Dennis]

Hi Derek – unfortunately any opportunity I have had to image the Sun has coincided with rain and clouds, we seem to be having an unusually wet and overcast few months.:(

Cheers

Dennis

[Matt Wastell]

Thanks all - t'was nice to get it - I will try some more processing to get the trail but the effort may not be worth it due to the terrible data.
Mmmmmmm, what next?

[astronobob]

Well done Matt :thumbsup: I wondered how you went, so great to see you got a good result ! !
And Dennis, good one both ! !

[Dennis]

Hey Matt

Your photo has scrubbed up really nicely given the atrocious conditions and lack of time to set up and focus correctly, so much better than my effort taken lower down in the valley. I wonder if the additional altitude of the Mount Gravatt lookout might have helped get you over the top of some of the low level stuff hanging around at the time?

Cheers

Dennis

[Matt Wastell]

Thanks Dennis - they were the most challenging conditions I have ever attempted to image in. I am sure the additional height helped - there was a lot of low misty cloud as well as high stuff too. Looking forward to the next one - happy to travel as this set up is pretty portable and quick to set up!

[ourkind]

Terrific work guys well done!! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Matt Wastell]

Hi all
If you are into this kind of thing - there are two more for the Brisbane area coming up.
- Thursday 25 April, 8.43am
- Thursday 23 May, 12.38pm
Things may change but these are the current calculations.
A great thing to view, albeit brief!

[Dennis]

Thanks Matt, although with our current run of clouds and rain my expectations are set to zero right now!:sadeyes:

Cheers

Dennis

[Matt Wastell]

Hi Dennis - I am off to Deception Bay tomorrow morning (25th April) to attempt another ISS solar transit.
With our recent run of better weather I feel quite confident for a better result.
Quite excited!

[Solar]

Good Luck Matt.

[Dennis]

Hi Matt

Thanks for the heads up – I’ve just come in from a lunar imaging session and the seeing has dropped off so I’m packing up. I just checked CalSky and all I see for Thursday 25th April at 8h44m28.20s is an entry for the ISS and the planet Mars.

The Sun is not listed?

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

Hi Matt

Just checked and re-set some filters and the Sun is now listed, but I’ve probably left my run too late, so the hopes and dreams of all ISS transit imagers rest upon your shoulders – no pressure!:P:)

Good luck mate!:thumbsup:

Cheers

Dennis