Jupiter, the Moon and the ISS

iceman (Mike) · #1 10-09-2008, 06:43 AM

Last night we had a great ISS pass over Sydney and the Central Coast, passing almost directly overhead at a max magnitude of -2.4. It occured between 18:48 and 18:51 local time, a great time of night with the sky nice and dark, and not too late either so I could drag the whole family out to watch it.

I wanted to capture it through the scope but I didn’t have time to set it all up (I only get home at 6pm and then had to have dinner, etc), so I captured a widefield view with the Canon 350D and Sigma 17-70mm lens on a fixed tripod using a long exposure. It passed very close to the Moon and Jupiter, making for a nice conjunction in the sky.

My family loved watching the bright ISS pass overhead. Last time we’d watched an ISS pass together I told the kids how there’s astronauts in there! They were suitably amazed. This time Abbey asked “How do the people get in there?” I told her a rocket took them up there. It’s great watching her face as she digests the information and I’d love to know what she imagines in her mind

Dennis · #2 10-09-2008, 07:07 AM

Hi Mike

A terrific couple of photos Mike. I love these wide field images that showcase such well known and easily recognisable objects. They are inspiring in quite a different was to the hi res and single galaxy stuff.

Cheers

Dennis

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 10-09-2008, 07:17 AM

Nice Mike!!.

It must have been the night for the ISS, we had a nice bright pass just after 7 as well. If I'd known it was coming I'd have had a second camera setup

Glad you were on the ball checking out the other online sites

spearo (Frank) · #4 10-09-2008, 07:20 AM

cool!
frank

h0ughy (David) · #5 10-09-2008, 07:42 AM

well done mate - i had no idea it was going to pass like that!

Liz · #6 10-09-2008, 07:58 AM

Yeah, well done Mike, it was certainly a bright pass.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #7 10-09-2008, 07:58 AM

While both are good Mike, I really like the second shot. It reminds me of a Jules Verne spacecraft on the way to the moon seconds after it was shot out of a cannon.

RB (Andrew) · #8 10-09-2008, 08:45 AM

How cool is that second shot !!
I love it.

Nice captures Mike, glad you got to image, I was hoping to setup my gear last night but something came up and I couldn't.

StephenM (Stephen) · #9 10-09-2008, 09:53 AM

Nice shots Mike! Well done.