7 replies to this topic

[Winteria]

A few issues this time. Tracking wasn't working very well for whatever reason, plus seeing/thermals and transparency were poor. But I still got something.

 

NexStar 6SE, ASI678MC | SkyTrack | 1.5ms, GAIN = 210, Gamma=60, 46 fps

 

Maximum altitude for this pass was 60°, I couldn't get the ISS in frame until around 40° maybe and only got usable data above 54°. Here's the best frame (57°):

 

 

And a short animation (54° to 59°). Kept it at capture scale so it could fit here. Click on it for my usual 150% version:

 

 

Lost ISS from frame after that and the SkyTrack manual controls didn't have enough range to get it back (must've been something wrong with my alignment since usually they are more than enough). I did get it in frame eventually by taking 'manual control' over one of the tripod legs, but ISS was getting pretty low and murky by that point so I haven't bothered to process that data.

 

The solar panels are nicely illuminated though, I've noticed this is a trend for passes that occur in the hemisphere of the sky opposite the sun, which makes sense.

 

 

Thanks for looking, clear skies! 

[rachnoman]

Just imagine there are people up there flying around the globe at high speed and at great risk!

 

Great capture.

Edited by rachnoman, 25 May 2024 - 07:51 AM.

[AstroBobo]

Amazing, I was trying to capture the ISS transit yesterday because it was very favorable, almost at the zenith, and to get more experience with SkyTrack. Tracking was way off, ahead of ISS, and out of my FOV - Pentax 105 SDP refractor and Uranus-C, so some 0.5x1 degrees. I gave up and tried manually with the controller (mount is iOptron HAE29) and managed to catch it only when it was already far away. Here's the video. 

 

But later I tried on a rocket bosster and it was dead center. Here's that video, no stabilization at all. So I went investigating and it seems ISS got a reboost a few hours before. Here's the source forum. It says:

 

 

Current schedule of ISS flight events
UTC time is used in table

2024
May 24  14:16:00 - ISS orbit's reboost by Cygnus (NG-20) "S.S. Patricia "Patty" Hilliard Robertson" engines (dV= +1.1 m/s)
May 24  23:03:00 - ISS orbit's reboost by Cygnus (NG-20) "S.S. Patricia "Patty" Hilliard Robertson" engines (dV= +1.1 m/s)

I was imaging at 19:40 UT, so it's quite possible the TLE wasn't updated immediately. Then I saw this thread, so it seems they were purposefully avoiding us Heavens Above also shows the reboost.

Edited by AstroBobo, 25 May 2024 - 03:43 PM.

[Winteria]

Just imagine there are people up there flying around the globe at high speed and at great risk!

 

Great capture.

Yes, always strange to think there are humans there whenever it crosses the sky as a silent, white dot.

 

Amazing, I was trying to capture the ISS transit yesterday because it was very favorable, almost at the zenith, and to get more experience with SkyTrack. Tracking was way off, ahead of ISS, and out of my FOV - Pentax 105 SDP refractor and Uranus-C, so some 0.5x1 degrees. I gave up and tried manually with the controller (mount is iOptron HAE29) and managed to catch it only when it was already far away. Here's the video. 

 

But later I tried on a rocket bosster and it was dead center. Here's that video, no stabilization at all. So I went investigating and it seems ISS got a reboost a few hours before. Here's the source forum. It says:
 

I was imaging at 19:40 UT, so it's quite possible the TLE wasn't updated immediately. Then I saw this thread, so it seems they were purposefully avoiding us Heavens Above also shows the reboost.

Very nice videos! A reboost would definitely explain the issues we were both having, so thanks for that info. I was eyeing up a nice lunar transit next Sunday, but after the maneuvers it looks like that won't be happening 

[dcaponeii]

Nice result

[Borodog]

Spectacular!

Edited by Borodog, 27 May 2024 - 07:55 AM.

[Winteria]

Nice result

Spectacular!

Thank you both!

[R Botero]

Great result and fantastic detail

 

Roberto