ISS Passing By

[pez]

Last night, general light overcast with a slight hole directly overhead, shot straight up with Rokinon 8mm and Pentax KP. Waxing gibbous Moon to left, Arcturus towards center, and the ISS passing by below.

 

[photoflyer]

It is hard to tell but I don't see star trails. Did you use a tracking mount like an iOptron? I plan to get one.

 

[dxqcanada]

I am going to guess the exposure time was not long enough for star trails ... the ISS rips pretty fast in its orbit, every time I catch a view it does not stay in the sky very long.

 

[edsland]

Always a cool sight, very nice

 

[pez]

It is hard to tell but I don't see star trails. Did you use a tracking mount like an iOptron? I plan to get one.

With my Pentax gear I can use the Astrotracer mode with GPS that uses the sensor-shift feature to extend sky exposure times... but this was 30 sec with 8mm, so not a lot of star trail even without other measures.

I am going to guess the exposure time was not long enough for star trails ... the ISS rips pretty fast in its orbit, every time I catch a view it does not stay in the sky very long.

Exactly. Last night, the Moon was making the overcast sky really bright, and I really didn't think I could get anything but set up anyway. Watching it show up through the haze was awe-inspiring, and I almost forgot to trip the shutter. Had I not been expecting it, I would have been puzzled over what exactly I was witnessing, lol. Magnitude was -3.6

Always a cool sight, very nice

Thanks!

 

[BillM]

Great shot, I watch the ISS go by every chance I get. Like tonight

Date Visible Max Height* Appears Disappears
Thu Jun 4, 9:06 PM 4 min 21° 14° above W 10° above S

 

[dxqcanada]

International Space Station tracker

 

[pez]

International Space Station tracker

I've used that and others before. Now, for sats I really like this phone app.
.