Low Earth orbit satellites, including the ISS, move at a fantastic speed. I've also seen these buggers cross the FOV, & being so low, through a scope it is actually possible to make out details: solar panels, body structure, and antennae. Might seem unlikely that you could make out such detail, but our scopes and eyepieces are actually very fine instruments. Think of the detail you can pull out of the planets at high magnification, and they are so bloody small!
My first experience with a low orbit satellite was while sketching the near full Moon a few years back. One of these suckers crossed right in front of the Moon. For just the couple of seconds the satellite was visible, I was able to make out the solsr panels, body, several antennae & even its coppery colour. Surprised me at first, the line of sight coincidence, but I realized what was going on. Heck of a thrill too!
Doesn't happen often. My first such experience with low orbit satellites was like I said 3, 4 years ago after being into astro some 30 years. And this has happened twice more since then, again while sketching. High orbit satellites are noticed a lot more frequently, and detail on these is impossible to make out. Their angular velocity (rate of movement through the EP FOV) is much slower so they are visible for longer and so more frequently seen.
Sorry fellows, nothing mystical, sinister or military going on here.
Tricky, you did bloody well to be able to track that thing for so long!
Mental.
Last edited by mental4astro; 14-02-2014 at 12:12 PM.
Reason: hyperbole
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