While looking at Saturn tonight the ISS came into view :o by the time I'd changed from a 7.5 to a 25mm it was nearly over head but managed to track it with my 8" dob for a good 60 deg, the glare was amazing 8) but could still make out an oblong shape,was hoping to get a better view as it faded in the East but the boiler house roof got in the way :cry: Stood for another 15 to 20 seconds watching it fade away :roll:
Nevertheless was very chuffed to be able to track it manually for so long
Eugene
IFAS Club :DAS :wink:

Great stuff,
how big was compared to jupiter or saturn on the telescope?

I remember a few years back myself and Dave Moore set up his C8 in 'False Pole' alignment (this is polar aligning to a false pole which is the center of a satellites apparent orbit). We used a video camera to capture MIR. When we analysed the individual frames on the resultant video you could clearly make out stuff like solar panels etc. I must ask him if he still has that video. I wonder what registax would make of it!!

Cool stuff!!

I wonder what registax would make of it!!

Cool stuff!!

Dave,
I'd say if you have the video source, then why not give it a go! I don't know if Mr. Moore uses it (Registax), but I have seen your photographic handy work! Give it a shot!

Yeah, Give it a try!!!! Even a video mode on any digital would do, right?

Keith..

It would be interesting to see how registax handled that, does the ISS change orientation (rotate) as the video goes on?, if so stacking the image will only give you a blur, you might be able to stack a small number of similar frames to avoid bluring

Great stuff,
how big was compared to jupiter or saturn on the telescope?

About width of Jupiter and maby 1.5 times as long.

Saw it blazing across the sky last night :wink: Easly tracked it with 36mm Eyepiece. Very bright and could not make out any detail. Was interesting that for the last 20 sec or so it turned a red color and slowley faded.

I wonder would a filter help with the glare and reveal some detail?

Damon

Seems like a good time to plug the IFAS ISS Observing challenge again

www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...-ISS%20challenge.pdf

Good Luck!

Cheers,
~Al

Damon
thats interesting about the red colour, I imagine this is due to the "setting" sun as seen from the space station.

Hi Guys ,Sorry I wasnt near the computer until tonight, :oops: , I was using a 25mm eyepiece,it was easily 1.5 times and maybe at times appeared a little bigger,I was hoping to get it dimming to try and make out the shape more clearly,but as I said the boiler house got in the way.I could make out an elongated shape,but VERY bright,Yea the red tint is as one Yank said an "ISS Sunset" 8)
I recollect Meade having an image of the ISS taken with one of their scopes on a catalogue,I was quite good

Eugene

I was out on tuesday night with the 6" Mak and noticed the ISS passing overhead.
It took me about 5 seconds to realiser that there was no way I could manuallty track with such a scope BUT I could use the 8x50 view finder and did notice it turning red as it dimmed.
Very cool

Eugene, maybe use something like a lunar filter next time when tracking the ISS, this might reduce the glare?!?

Good idea Dave :idea: ,Willgive it a go tonight if weather holds,I have a variable lunar filter that I can step down a lot 8)
Clear skies
Eugene