How to Image a Satellite?

[Matty P]

After seeing some amazing images of the ISS posted in the solar system forum. I have decided (weather permitting) to give it a go. I am lucky enough to have a bright -2.3mag ISS passing tomorrow at around 8pm. So if skies stay clear, I will definately set up the scope for this passing.

Knowing that Satellites move very quickly through the sky and there is no way to get the scope to track it.

I was just wondering what is the best way/technique to image a satellite? :shrug:

Thanks in adavance :thumbsup:

[Matty P]

Any suggestions? :help:

[iceman]

No different than imaging a planet, but much harder :)

You've gotta manually track it through the finderscope, so a couple of things are very important:

1. Finderscope very accurately aligned with the CCV FOV
2. Focus on a star beforehand
3. Set the exposure on a very bright star with similar magnitude as your pass.
4. Start recording, and track it as it goes along.

All of that, and hope that you get a few hits of the ISS on the avi. :)

[Matty P]

Thanks for your input Mike, :)

The Heavens Above website says that the ISS passing tonight will be a bright -2.3mag. So it will be a tad hard to find a star similar to that brightness. What should I do?

Barlow or no Barlow? :shrug:

I really apreciate your help. :thumbsup:

[sheeny]

Have a look at Mike's settings from his last run:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=28087&highlight=ISS

His scope is a bit bigger then yours, but if you use the same settings or just increase the exposure time a bit, you should be pretty right!;)

Al.

[Matty P]

I just remembered that the capture software has an automatic exposure setting. So when selected, the software will automatically change the exposure time so the histogram is fully exposed.

Should I use this?

[iceman]

No, it doesn't update fast enough - it would work if the ISS stayed on screen the whole time, but it won't.

Yhou have to take a chance with your exposure and hope you got it right!

Clouds here now :(

[Matty P]

Does a 1/1200s exposure time sound alright?

[sheeny]

I think 1/1200 sec is what Mike used. It should be close.

Since the ISS isn't a point source, and your scope is a bit slower than Mikes, so maybe bump the exposure up a stop... say 1/600s:shrug:.

Al.