Observation by Philip Masding: International Space Station
Uploaded by
Philip Masding
Observer
Philip Masding
Observed
2020 Mar 26 - 20:31
Uploaded
2020 Mar 31 - 10:33
Objects
Spacecraft
Equipment
- 10" LX200 classic at f10
- Skyris 618M mono camera
- Baader red filter
Exposure
1/400 second
Location
Manchester
Target name
ISS
Title
International Space Station
About this image
The ISS is never overhead from Manchester because we are too far north. This shot was taken when the range was 469km and the altitude 63 degrees. The solar arrays are 11.9m wide so that's 5 arcseconds at that range. The image is a stack of 30 frames processed in Registax.
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Comments
Great image. How are you tracking the ISS?
I have an automatic tracking program which works with the LX200. It acquires the ISS in a 50mm guidescope which has another camera. It then adjusts the RA/Dec motors to keep the ISS in the middle. The main camera then takes a video at f10 through the main scope. I can track the ISS throughout the entire pass so I can usually find some moments of above average seeing and get an image like this
Loads of detail Phil- excellent. Interested to hear you are tracking automatically.
Martin
That really is an excellent image, Phil. Do you see any effects of mirror-flop as the telescope orientation changes? That's something I've had some trouble with using a Newtonian for the ISS.
Chris
Hi Chris, The old LX200 classics often had severe mirror flop but I got lucky and got a good one. In my case there is virtually zero image shift when I focus and judging by the automatic tracking log there is no point where a sudden correction is needed so I don't think mirror flop happens.
BTW your lunar transit images are great especially the one near the terminator.
Cheers
Phil
Thanks Martin. Automatic tracking relies on a quirk of the LX200. If you send a series of GOTO's at about 10 per second instead of just getting confused it follows a smooth trajectory.
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