Is There An Easy Way to Capture the ISS?

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19285868
...

Now how long before ISS comes back to my neighborhood with CLEAR skies????? That could be a long wait.

Use a ISS tracker like this one or this one.

I've never done the ISS and I have no real desire to just yet, but I have done planetary before. Some people may be able to take a good picture of Saturn or Jupiter with one frame but most don't, they rely on software to process multiple frames from a movie into a decent still. That's your best avenue to get something good. I've attached an image of Saturn which I took using video (from an astro camera rather than a DSLR but the theory is exactly the same) and processed with Autostakkert then in Registax.

You'll need to watch some videos on planetary or ISS imaging and give it a try. Like everything else your first attempts will probably be a bust but keep on trying. You've done enough decent images with your DSLR of deep space stuff, it's just stretching yourself a bit further. The biggest difference with the ISS to regular planetary is the speed it moves.

gjl711 wrote in post #19285888

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19285868
...

Now how long before ISS comes back to my neighborhood with CLEAR skies????? That could be a long wait.

Use a ISS tracker like this one or this one.

I should have said that I do use Spot the Station which does send me emails when it will be in my area again. But I still do not know until I hear from them.

Thank you for your tips!

Made this three minute image of the ISS going across my backyard with 24mm lens.

I use Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible, then stellarium-web.org to view more accurate location.

Image hosted by forum (1123795) © Yaryman THIS IS A LOW QUALITY PREVIEW. Please log in to see the good quality stuff.

Yaryman wrote in post #19289588
Made this three minute image of the ISS going across my backyard with 24mm lens.

I use Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible, then stellarium-web.org to view more accurate location.

Hosted photo: posted by Yaryman in
./showthread.php?p=192​89588&i=i75929346
forum: Astronomy & Celestial

Nice! I am hoping to get one a bit better... I want one showing the astronauts looking out the window waving at me!! LOL LOL LOL!

We have been having a LOT of cloudy days/nights the last several days, but last night turned out to be a clear night. Yesterday was a bit cloudy so I lucked out in that last night was also scheduled to have ISS swing by my area at 8:37PM. The prediction also said the MAX height was going to be 41° which is quite low so I really doubted I would see it. The time was going by, I was looking in all directions but not finding it, but then I did finally see it! It was quite a bit higher than I expected to see at I would guess more like 75°-80°.

I had my camera ready to snap some shots, but I did not get anything at all even close to being "in focus" they were all very very blurry. I had my ISO up to 10K which did not help. Being out of focus was the worst part. It was very difficult for me to try and focus on the fast moving object in the sky.

Before the ISS was here I tried focusing on Jupiter but that was also not easy as I was hand holding my lens. I did not try using my 150-600 lens as that is just too heavy for me to hand hold. I was using my 70-300 which is much lighter in weight.

Try pre-focusing on the moon. That should be your lens's proper infinity setting and the ISS should then be in focus.

SiriusDoggy wrote in post #19293535
Try pre-focusing on the moon. That should be your lens's proper infinity setting and the ISS should then be in focus.

I totally agree! However, the moon is not always out on the nights the ISS flies by. The moon was not out the last two times ISS flew by.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19293542
I totally agree! However, the moon is not always out on the nights the ISS flies by. The moon was not out the last two times ISS flew by.

Make a Bahtinov Mask and focus on a star or better yet, Jupiter or another bright planet. It's easy to make and makes focusing a lot easier. If your not at all crafty, you can buy them as well.

gjl711 wrote in post #19293548
Make a Bahtinov Mask and focus on a star or better yet, Jupiter or another bright planet. It's easy to make and makes focusing a lot easier. If your not at all crafty, you can buy them as well.

Do I use this for pre-focusing only, or do I leave it on the lens to also take the picture?

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19293555
Do I use this for pre-focusing only, or do I leave it on the lens to also take the picture?

It's only used for focusing. It creates a diffraction pattern and you focus until the center spike is centered. Then you leave the focus alone and remove the mask to take your picture without re-focusing.

gjl711 wrote in post #19293548
Make a Bahtinov Mask and focus on a star or better yet, Jupiter or another bright planet. It's easy to make and makes focusing a lot easier. If your not at all crafty, you can buy them as well.

JJ, looking at the different masks shown, I know to stay within the OD of my lens hood size or just a bit larger... (97mm) but which type would be the best? Do I need one with the hole in the center, or get one with no hole in the center?

I am NOT going to try to make one......

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19293688
JJ, looking at the different masks shown, I know to stay within the OD of my lens hood size or just a bit larger... (97mm) but which type would be the best? Do I need one with the hole in the center, or get one with no hole in the center?

I am NOT going to try to make one......

Does anyone know what the difference is between the masks having the hole and not having the hole?

I see very little difference between them all other than the hole or lack of hole. Not mentioning the overall size (diameters) of the masks.

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19293736
Does anyone know what the difference is between the masks having the hole and not having the hole?

I see very little difference between them all other than the hole or lack of hole. Not mentioning the overall size (diameters) of the masks.

Usually the hole in the mask made to use on scopes or lenses with central mirror - reflectors. For regular photo lenses or refraction telescopes better to use a mask without a hole in center, but anyway both would work. All you need the size which fits your lens and will not fell off the lens when you focusing on the object. I would suggest to switch your camera/lens on manual focusing mode (no auto focus and no vibration compensation!), take finger long piece of electric tape, put mask on the lens, aim on brightest star on the sky, manually set lens focus (watch https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=-X27D1wOUaY), carefully secure focusing ring with piece of prepared tape, check focusing again to be sure it is good, remove the mack and your camera and lens ready for night performance (leave the tape on lens all night session).

Inspeqtor wrote in post #19285908
I should have said that I do use Spot the Station which does send me emails when it will be in my area again. But I still do not know until I hear from them.

Thank you for your tips!

I like N2YO.com which predicts visible passes for your location up to 10 days in advance.