Tonight at about 9:45pm we have a favourable pass of the ISS for Oberon, Blue Mountains and east to Lostock/Newcastle. Mag -1.9 about 70-75 deg elevation for both Oberon (@45 deg Az) and Lostock (@330 deg Az).
I'm just in from watching the pass. Lots of patchy cloud here but it wasn't too difficult to follow through the sucker holes. 70+degrees elevation seems very close to vertical through binoculars.
The ISS was definitely bright (I really didn't have time to compare to what stars were visible ) and of yellow /gold colour. It shows definite size about it now in the 20x80s, but I still can't resolve detail with these. I don't think much more magnification would be required to do so though. At it's closest point there may have been a slight possibility of making out some shape, but I just couldn't get it back in the FOV after jumping a cloud or two.
As it retreated to the east there was a reasonable patch of clear sky, and the ISS flared quite brightly.
Regarding the ISS I was in Brisbane on the 5th of Jan and around 7:30pm (8:30pm EDST) I witnessed what I thought to be the ISS passing NW-SE overhead as it was atleast as bright as the brightest star but after checking with Heavens Above it seems that was not the case.
Anyone else from the area view this? T'was not an airplane and if it was a sattelite it is the brightest I have ever seen.
Just setting up camera (borrowed!) on tripod at the end of twilight when the bright light appeared! Pity I'm not familiar with the camera (Fujifilm S5500), as I was fumbling around with the buttons and knobs in a panic in the dark. Got three images in Night Mode @ 3-sec each, but focus was not good and I didn't know how to set the shutter delay (hence wobble at start). Checked Heavens Above later to confirm - should just read IIS threads!
Anyway, got a couple of colourful streaks against black sky, one attached below (time 9:46pm). Very bright and smooth across sky. Maybe next time I'll be ready.
Last night I happened to have my 10 inch scope out when it came right overhead, I hadnt checked when the ISS was coming over so didnt even know it was the ISS, till I looked at it through the scope. Tracking it as it went overhead I was amazed, I could clearly see the new big solar arrays and their gold colour and the white central modules. It was totally amazing.
Scott
In my previous post in this thread, I attached a stripped-down photo of ISS trail, which I assumed was out of focus (photographed stars immediately after, which were a bit out of focus).
On looking at the original shot, I noticed distinct lines in the streak (cropped section attached). I'd like some opinions on what these might be. Did I fluke good focus, with the lines relating to structure & orientation, or are they just some weird interference pattern relating to poor focus etc?
Did a quick web-search looking for similar obs, but turned up with zilch. Any ideas? Thanks -
I would suggest that's an Airey disc trail... so yup, focus was out.
The dark band in the middle is the dark circle in the centre of the Airey disk. There is a very slight light line in the centre which is the locus of the entre point of the disc. Each line on each side corresponds to each ring of the Airey disc. Also the end of the trail is circular, which I would expect from an Airey disc but not from the structure of the ISS.
When I saw the original post and the thumbnail on this one I was prepared to think you had some structure there, but sorry, I don't think that's the case now. It's an interesting photo anyway!
I set my phone alarm for 5 minutes prior, sprayed on the mozzie repellant as its hot as hell here and i went out in shorts to enjoy the cool air outside.
What an awesome pass! There is some definate size about it now. I had crystal clear skies all the way across.
) and of yellow /gold colour. It shows definite size about it now in the 20x80s, but I still can't resolve detail with these. I don't think much more magnification would be required to do so though. At it's closest point there may have been a slight possibility of making out some shape, but I just couldn't get it back in the FOV after jumping a cloud or two.
The pressure was on Rob!
Good work!
