Telescope Reviews: ISS imaging question

I'm NOT an expert in imaging the ISS but I did it a few times and it seems to work:
- I guide manualy thru the finder scope - Meade 9 X 50 mm
- Align the finderscope with the main telescope as precise you can ( I use a meade 14"LX200 with no barlow lens).
- Focus on a star or the moon as close as you can, using the laptop screen.
- Set the fps as high as possible like 30 or 60 to avoid image blur.
- Then there is the exposure setting like 1/1000 or 1/1500
This depending on the brightness of the ISS (mag.) This requires some experimenting, you can check this with other imagers or compare images taken at different Mag.
- Gain setting, normaly very high gain, again this requires some tests.
- do not forget the SCT mirrorlock !
- Remember that the ISS is at his closest point when it's overhead (like 300 - 400 km) Then it's the time to capture the ISS !
- When the ISS is on the horizon it's still faint and slow, but then it suddenly starts to brighten up and goes real fast. The best thing to is to do a few 'dry' manual runs across the sky with your telescope and see how that works out, Freedom of movement and keeping the ISS in the crosshairs of the viewfinder ! See that nothing is obstructing the 'swing' with your telescope like the Camera cables or small table or wifes & kids, pets or so. Sometimes your body does not want go were the ISS is going to...
- Look at the ISS track were it is coming from and were it is going to - NE-SW, please do check it on a software program first and get familiar with the sky.
- Do not forget to update your planetary software the same day when you're about to image the ISS, or see Haevens Above website
http://www.heavens-above.com/?Session=kebgcobblaimcaeebbicfpkd
- Do not forget to remove the dustcap from your scope !
- Do not forget to push the 'Start' or 'capture' button on the laptop to start imaging !!!!!
- As Mike already said, you just let your camera run from beginning to the end, and then go tru a lot of dark frames, like a few 1000 nds, and some of then will hold an image of the ISS !!!
I do this in Handy Avi, select the images were the ISS shows up and make an Avi only of these frames.
- and then there is the processing software to bring out more detail in the ISS, but that's for later.
After a few times of practising you will succeed and please do post your result here.
And for all DO NOT GIVE UP, NEVER !!
You WILL capture that first image of an astronaut that's coming out of the airlock . . . . before Ralf does

It's a lot of fun !

Freddy

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Freddy

Meade 14" LX200 GPS UHTC GPS on permanent pier (Time Machine)
Celestron C 14" Peltier cooled for planetary imaging.
Meade 10" LX200 & TITAN 50:1 mount Gemini 'go to'
Meade 127 mm f/9 APO & TITAN 50:1 mount Gemini 'go to'
W/O 102 mm f/7 APO doublet
Orion 80 mm f/7 ED

DFK 21AU04.AS
ToUcam 840 II pro
Canon 10D Unmoddified
Canon 40D waiting to be modded by Hutech

And lots of eyepieces and acc.

Edited by Freddy WILLEMS (10/11/08 06:31 PM)