Ralf Vandebergh
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/25/06
Posts: 1262
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Subject: Space Shuttle Discovery Main Engines (SSMEs)
subject: 2009/03/20 STS-119 Discovery observation
_________________________________________________
A reprocessing using a composite of 10 frames taken during
approach of the docked Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-119 mission
in March 2009, resolved some surprising detail including a
sign of the Main Engines(SSMEs)of the Orbiter.
For a visualisation model to compare, see:
http://mensa-barbie.com/bloggerimages/400SPACESTATIONig125_01_iss_02.JPG
There is a special difficulty capturing the engines due to
problems with the lighting and position angle of observing.
Although resolving them is theoretically within the reach of
an amateur telescope, the engines are not optimal lighted by
sun during culmination, the position were we have shortest
distance and so best resolution. A while before culm, during
approach, lighting angle is better, but resolution is far
from optimal. In this case, thanks to exellent seeing and the
luck with 10 usable frames to improve slightly sign/noise ratio,
it succeeded however.
Imagery: 10inch Newtonian, fully manually tracked using a
6x magn tracking scope)
_______________________
Ralf Vandebergh
http://ralfvandebergh.startje.be/vieuw.php?qid=328303
Edited by Ralf Vandebergh (10/27/09 10:12 AM)
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lukasik
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/11/05
Posts: 1048
Loc: Lawrenceville, Georgia
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Outstanding Ralf! Fantastic work.
Regards,
Bob
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DaemonGPF
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/22/08
Posts: 3580
Loc: New Mexico
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Very cool shot.
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-Josh
http://cleardarksky.com/c/AlbuqNMkey.html
My AP Gallery
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Ralf Vandebergh
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/25/06
Posts: 1262
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Thank you, here is a wider field version. You can just see the MSS(Canadarm 2 on top of the image.
Ralf
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1194
Loc: Johnston, RI
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W-O-W!!! 
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chutch44
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/23/07
Posts: 508
Loc: Pontotoc, Ms
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Incredible detail as usual. You never cease to amaze me. Thanks for sharing.
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Hutch
Celestron ASGT C8
William Optics Z66SD
Meade 3.3 Focal Reducer
Meade Dsi-c
Meade Dsi-Pro II
Plillips SPC900NC
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Lunatiki
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/07/05
Posts: 1863
Loc: Amarillo, TX
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Amazing work as always Ralf. You are at the top of the game when it comes to imaging the shuttle and ISS. Have you thought about giving this a try?
MYSTERY OBJECT: Yesterday, astronomers in Arizona, New Mexico and Spain, all hunting for near-Earth asteroids, discovered a "mystery object" orbiting Earth. Temporarily named "9U01FF6," it is small and in an elongated, 31-day orbit. Experts say it is probably a piece of an Apollo-era Moon mission. We'll get a closer look on Oct. 29th when it zips past Earth about 82,000 km (0.2 lunar distances) away. Advanced amateur astronomers can find it using
The story is on spaceweather.com
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Mars Watch
All images taken with:
Celestron CPC 1100
DBK 21AF04.AS
K3ccd/Registax4/PSP8/Maxim DL IP
ALPO Member #4287
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Freddy WILLEMS
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/13/05
Posts: 2560
Loc: Hawaii, Honolulu
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Allright, that one hell of a capure again Ralf.
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Freddy
Meade 14" LX200 GPS UHTC GPS on permanent pier
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 Hutech moddified
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Joe F Gafford
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/15/06
Posts: 518
Loc: Denver, Colorado, US
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Joe
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JMI 18" f4.5 Newtonian, split ring mount
10" f4.5 Newtonian on GEM (was a DS-10 once upon a time)
50 and 110 mm Mamiya RZ lenses with homemade adapter
ST-2000XM camera
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retina boy
super member
Reged: 11/20/06
Posts: 173
Loc: Bryan, Texas
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Mindblowing is the only word I can come up with. I may just give up on ISS imaging after this. You are the master 
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Derek
CPC1100, Astronomik RGB, Skynyx 2-0M
Project: TEC cooled C14
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Ralf Vandebergh
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/25/06
Posts: 1262
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Hi all,
Many thanks for all replies. Sorry for the late answer, I was without connection from Thursday until in the weekend and just answering things. Joel, thanks for the link. It is no easy feat to find this object and image it in high resolution but I sometimes image satellites which are actually unknown and unlisted. That's very interesting. One of these cases can you find on my website or here is the direct link:
http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6479/unlistedsat20080705.jpg
Derek, don't do it. Keep shooting, just enjoy spaceflight!
Resolution is unlimited, you always want better and better.
Everyone for its own....
Ralf
Edited by Ralf Vandebergh (11/03/09 04:16 PM)
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Ralf Vandebergh
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/25/06
Posts: 1262
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It always can better. Here is an improved version
Edited by Ralf Vandebergh (11/05/09 04:14 AM)
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