Headsup: Brisbane ISS Sun crossing 2:09pm 21st June

[von Tom]

This afternoon the ISS is expected to cross the solar disc at 2:09pm local Brisbane time. The centreline goes through Moreton Island, Lota, Ransome, Gumdale, Chandler, Mackenzie, Runcorn, Stretton, Greenbank.

CalSky:
http://www.calsky.com/?Transitline=&showhome=&obs=81134432212366&tdt=2455733.67409854&sat=25544&interval=0.00011574&step=0.00000231&mainbody=0

I am about 2 kms away and will still get a crossing. Just deciding on how to capture it!

Cheers,

Tom

[[1ponders]]

Just to confirm that Tom. Its 2 oclock and not 4 oclock. ie for me its 14:14:07

[von Tom]

Thanks Paul - yes just after 2pm. I have corrected the time in my post.
How's it looking for you?

Tom

[Derek Klepp]

Good luck Tom hope you get a picture

[[1ponders]]

It would be looking fantastic for a photo opportunity ..... if I wasn't going to be at work. :confuse3: maybe i could swap a couple of hours from today for Thursday. :confuse3:

[von Tom]

Thanks Derek.

Sounds like a good idea if you can manage it Paul :)

[jjjnettie]

I'm all set up and ready to go.
There's a lovely sunspot up there atm too, won't it make a beaut pairing?
Good luck!

[Dennis]

Paul & Jeanette, I may have got this completely wrong, but I thought that these types of passes required you to be within 5 or 6 kms of the centreline to ensure that you record the transit?:question:

With you being so distant from the centreline, are you sure this is even worth attempting?:shrug:

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie]

:D I'll have to wait and see how accurate Calsky is. Both Paul and I got alerts too.

[Dennis]

Good luck Jeanette, Paul, & Tom – I hope that everything lines up and that all systems are go!

Cheers

Dennis

[h0ughy]

well should know soon if they scored it?

[von Tom]

Checklist for a successful imaging of an ISS transit of the Sun.

1. Telescope power source fully charged: Check
2. Spare camera battery fully charged: Check
3. Camera memory card formatted: Check
4. 12" Dobsonian telescope collimated: Check
5. Off axis solar filter fitted to the front of the telescope: Check
6. Cap fitted to front of finderscope: Check
7. Camera placed in car after using it on the weekend,
not taking it out and discovering wife has driven to
work with the camera still in the car, leaving one
without something to image with. Check.

Oh, wait...

[Dennis]

Ouch! Now that hurts!:(

Commiserations Tom, for this time at least, I am sure that another opportunity will come up soon and you, your equipment and your checklist will meet the challenge!:)

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie]

Well I didn't see it through the finder, and I can't see it on the video I took. So I'm having to convert the .mov file so I can run it through Virtual Dub, so I can check it frame by frame.
I'm not liking my chances here.

[Dennis]

Hi Jeanette

I am new to this stuff and CalSky (I only joined up after original Tom’s post). However, geographically I am much closer to the calculated centre line than either you or Paul and CalSky tells me that it missed our back garden by approx 0.2 degrees so your misses should be much greater if I am understanding CalSky properly.:shrug:

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie]

It's a damn shame isn't it. I fine tuned my position with them a couple of weeks ago too.

[von Tom]

Looks like another opportunity for a "learning experience" :) this Friday in Brisbane. This time in the Cleveland area. I will have another go!

Tom

[Dennis]

Hi Tom

I am new to CalSky and the path it seems to have plotted is as shown in the attached file.:shrug:

Is that similar to the results you have obtained? If so, I might just try to get down there and give this a go.:)

Cheers

Dennis

[von Tom]

That looks like what I have Dennis.
Tom

[Dennis]

Thanks Tom – I am still coming to grips with the SkyCal user interface and I appreciate you confirming that I appear to be on the right track.:thumbsup:

Hopefully I will be able to get down there.:)

Cheers

Dennis