How to Image a Satellite?

[Matty P (Matt)]

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?

Thanks in adavance

[Matty P (Matt)]

Any suggestions?

[iceman (Mike)]

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 (Matt)]

Originally Posted by 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.

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?

I really apreciate your help.

[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by 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?

I really apreciate your help.

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

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...&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 (Matt)]

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 (Mike)]

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 (Matt)]

Does a 1/1200s exposure time sound alright?

[sheeny (Al)]

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.

Al.