My 2nd ISS Lunar Transit

Beautiful.

This is on my list of things to photograph NEXT.

So where do you find the data that shows the flight path like you have on the link there?

U SUCK!!!!!

Ok, I'm a little envious, as I missed my opportunity 1 week ago, very nice.

Yours was 10pm, mine was going to be 1:24am.....

Fantastic execution! Would like to know the process to capture such images.

Very, very cool. Thank you for sharing this.

ScenicCityPhoto wrote in post #16390862
Beautiful.

This is on my list of things to photograph NEXT.

So where do you find the data that shows the flight path like you have on the link there?

Thanks you!

Are you referring to the 3 files or the skychart?

The 3 files are generated by this java software I have just below this paragraph. It's not user friendly at all. To be honest with you, I set it up a couple of years ago and forgot the steps, but I remember it took me a good bit of time(half hour or so). I ended up setting it up a cron job on my mac to run every couple of days and email me if there is one. I'll try and work on a better set of directions tonight.

http://pictures.ed-morana.com/ISSTransits​/predictions/

For the skychart, I used http://www.heavens-above.com/ and after selecting my location, went to ISS Passes, and "All passes" instead of just the visible passes. Then just click on the date of the pass you're wanting.

mtbdudex wrote in post #16390906
U SUCK!!!!!

Ok, I'm a little envious, as I missed my opportunity 1 week ago, very nice.

Yours was 10pm, mine was going to be 1:24am.....

Keep at it, you'll get it Mike. Just be prepared for weird looks when people realize you drove an hour away from your home to take a photo of something you couldn't see that lasted less than 1 second.

the jimmy wrote in post #16391116
Fantastic execution! Would like to know the process to capture such images.

Thanks Jimmy! I wrote some directions on how I did it the first time, but it needs to be updated and cleaned up a little bit. Only thing I can tell you is lots and lots of planning.

http://doublea.speedge​eks.org/iss/#transit-2013-08-18

WayneHawn wrote in post #16391593
Very, very cool. Thank you for sharing this.

Thanks Wayne, this is one group I know will not give me weird looks when I tell them what went into it.

Aaron

Harrisa, this is very *very* cool.

Bump, for reason of asking a question:

For a shot like this, does the ISS need to be "in shadow", or does it need to be visible (lit by sunlight). I've got an opportunity on Saturday to attempt a photo.


I've pretty much figured everything else out. I even came withing a few minutes of getting the shot a couple of months ago, but got hit by cloud cover at the last minute. In thinking back, though, it was during a visible pass of the ISS. After some consideration, I'm thinking that a non-visible pass might be a better option.

Thoughts/experiences?

sandwedge wrote in post #17148115
Bump, for reason of asking a question:

For a shot like this, does the ISS need to be "in shadow", or does it need to be visible (lit by sunlight). I've got an opportunity on Saturday to attempt a photo.


I've pretty much figured everything else out. I even came withing a few minutes of getting the shot a couple of months ago, but got hit by cloud cover at the last minute. In thinking back, though, it was during a visible pass of the ISS. After some consideration, I'm thinking that a non-visible pass might be a better option.

Thoughts/experiences?

Sandwedge, tell me about it... I've missed 2 solar transits in the past month because of cloud cover. It only makes it that much better when you do get it.

I say go for it. I've been trying to capture a visible transit for a while, but so far it's only worked out once where I could and I missed it by 1/10s(below).

If you want a shot like my original 2013-10-19 Lunar post, yes the ISS does need to be "in shadow."

If you want a "visible" or "sunlit" ISS transit it will look something like this, although there are much better examples of visible transits than mine.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/odD6​ii

Thanks for the reply, Aaron.

Great shots, by the way.

Good to know that it needs to be in shadow. Adds a couple degrees of difficulty, though. I'm not sure if the clouds will break in time, but I'm giving it a go in 4 hours.

I was surprised that the centerline prediction changed over the last few hours, by a decent amount. I am even getting different centerline predictions from Calsky and the Calsky link to google maps 2 day predictions. I'm going with the Calsky site prediction.

Now lets hope that my watch will be accurate and that my buffer doesn't fill just before it crosses.

Also of concern for me: I've taken a shot of a visible pass (no transit, obviously) with my 100-400. At the pixel level, I was able to make out the solar panels. I've decided to go with a 2x tc to try to get more pixels on target. Let's hope the degraded IQ doesn't cost me too much.

Anyway, I'm rambling as I sit here waiting for the time to come.

I appreciate your help.

Doug