International Space Station through the scope - 11th Sep

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi all

It's been about 9 months since I was last able to capture an image of the ISS through the scope - the weather and timing have meant I just haven't had an opportunity until last night.

It was a nice overhead pass, mag -2.1, but due to trees I could only capture it once it passed overhead until it started setting.

11/09/2008 08:09 UT
Central Coast, NSW Australia
12” dob + 2x barlow + DMK21AU04, 60fps, 1/1250s exposure
Manually tracked using finderscope.

Thanks for looking.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Pretty good effort Mike

[Matty P (Matt)]

Awesome capture Mike. Very well done.

I've been wanting to image the ISS again but just haven't had the time to.

Thanks for sharing.

[sheeny (Al)]

Awesome, Mike!

I missed it... never mind I was busy working into the dark pouring my pier footing (before the rain arrives today...)

Al.

[Peter Ward]

Having tried a few times use a PME to actually track the ISS, I've come to the conclusion this is no trivial or easy task to completely nail.

Well done indeed!

[RB (Andrew)]

That's a fantastic anim Mike and great still captures !!

Excellent work indeed.

[h0ughy (David)]

OH accolades from heaven - how awesome is that - Farrrrrr out man look at the detail............. ................................Mik e you da man!!!!!!!!!!!

[cookie8 (Vincent)]

Fantastic! Best I've ever seen in this forum!!!
Mike,I tried to do the same on the 9th with my 900nc and manually track using Telred. I only got about 10 frames with ISS in it but they are all blurred. What went wrong? Should I use shortest shutter speed next time or the 900nc is just not up to the task? Max frame rate is 15 or can I increase it?

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys, it's such a balancing act between exposure and freezing the shutter. I could use a faster shutter if I took the 2x barlow out of the equation, and probably get more frames with the ISS in it as well, but I want the image scale too!

Vincent, you need to use the fastest framerate you can, with a fast shutter. I was using 60fps and 1/1250s exposure. The 900nc is definitely capable. Keep trying! Go to 30fps and use 1/1000s exposure or faster to stop the blurring.

[Ric]

Great images of a fascinating target Mike.

The animation is a beauty as well.

[Dennis]

Hey Mike

That is really cool. The individual frames and the animation are just fantastic. I really enjoy looking at these types of captures. I suspect a lot of hard work went into the guiding, post capture processing and sorting of the keeper frames – top job!

Cheers

Dennis

PS - I concur with H0ughy's creative use of icons!

[beren]

Excellent Mike well done

[matt]

Well done, Mike.

I have yet to capture the IIS and as Dennis points out...there's quite a bit involved. Good stuff

[iceman (Mike)]

I was lucky enough to have the moon visible in the hour before hand to allow me to get the DMK focussed. Being early in the evening (6:09pm) there weren't many stars visible. I was able to use Jupiter afterwards to try and align my finderscope accurately.

Though my finderscope isn't focused on infinity and I can't seem to find how to fix that

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by iceman

Though my finderscope isn't focused on infinity and I can't seem to find how to fix that

I assume it doesn't have a diopter adjustment?

[matt]

Originally Posted by iceman

Though my finderscope isn't focused on infinity and I can't seem to find how to fix that

Can you post a pic of your finderscope?

A lot of them focus by rotating the front lens housing.

[StephenM (Stephen)]

Great work Mike!!!

[Phil]

Great stuff Mike well done.
Phil

[Chrissyo (Chris)]

Awesome shots!

Gotta love the ISS, it makes for such a fun target!

[Quark (Trevor)]

Originally Posted by iceman

I was lucky enough to have the moon visible in the hour before hand to allow me to get the DMK focussed. Being early in the evening (6:09pm) there weren't many stars visible. I was able to use Jupiter afterwards to try and align my finderscope accurately.

Though my finderscope isn't focused on infinity and I can't seem to find how to fix that

Exceptional effort Mike,

Being able to find something early enough to focus on would have been a great help, but to track by hand with a finder at about 5X and get frames of the ISS at, probably about 800X, requires an exceptionally steady hand, well done indeed.

Regards
Trevor