Need Help Prepping for ISS Transit

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Starry Jack
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Need Help Prepping for ISS Transit

Post by Starry Jack »

I'm excited that on Friday morning (Sept 4th) I have a chance to capture the ISS transiting the sun. However, my widest angle FOV is almost 1/2 sun. So putting my scope in the right place is paramount.

The CalSky instructions are thus:
Crosses the disk of Sun. Separation=0.152°
Position Angle=264.7°, Position angle vertex=321.5°. Transit duration=1.35s
Angular diameter=30.2" size=109.0m x 73.0m x 27.5m
Satellite at Azimuth= 97.5° E Altitude= 23.7° Distance=915.3 km
In a clock-face concept, the satellite will seem to move toward 4:17
Angular Velocity=19.3'/s

Centerline, closest point →Map: Longitude=117°12'28"W Latitude=+33°05'17" (WGS84) Distance=3.82 km Azimuth=214.3° SW Path direction=124.3° SE ground speed=8.954 km/s width=10.3 km max. duration=1.6 s
Orbit source: NASA predicted orbit

My FOV testing today with my 80mm refractor, Quark and 2x Barlow produce this FOV:
Solar FOV 80mm Quark Barlow ASI174.png
Solar FOV 80mm Quark Barlow ASI174.png (894.48 KiB) Viewed 321 times
How do I anticpate N/S/E/W and entry point and exit point in my rig?

Heeellp!

Jack


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Re: Need Help Prepping for ISS Transit

Post by Starry Jack »

I have a thought. Tomorrow I will view the sun with the camera I. A set position. Then I will try and obscure the objective at the 4:17 position. If I can note the obstruction location I should be able to orient.yself for the event and repeat positioning Friday.

Or...the full moon is out. I might try that now without the Quark and hope that the Quark does not change Irie tstion such as the refractor already dies.

Hmmm,
Jack


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Aeries D-ERF
Quark Chromosphere f27 native, (f14 when focal reduced)
Mallincam .5x focal reducer (large format)
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Re: Need Help Prepping for ISS Transit

Post by Starry Jack »

Ah HAH!
So the full moon passed right in front of a power cable so I was able to orient what CalSky calls the "clockface" and my rig (without the Quark). So now I know that if I keep my camera in place for the next few days until the transit, I know which limb of the Sun I should be photographing (4:17 on the clockface).

Now then since the ISS is heading "towards 4:17 on the clockface as seen in binoculars" I will point at the limb at that spot and perhaps move towards the center of the sun a bit just to account for any error in my orientation and have the greatest chance of catching the transit.

I'll also call Daystar tomorrow to see if the Quark changes orientation of the FOV similar to a refractor or if it just passes the image straight through.
Full Moon Clock Face in my 80mm with Focal Reducer and ASI174 USB on Objective side of Focuser.jpg
Full Moon Clock Face in my 80mm with Focal Reducer and ASI174 USB on Objective side of Focuser.jpg (153.16 KiB) Viewed 316 times
Sooooo excited,
Jack


Explore Scientific 152mm f6.5 achromat
Aeries D-ERF
Quark Chromosphere f27 native, (f14 when focal reduced)
Mallincam .5x focal reducer (large format)
12nm Filter
ZWO174 (IMX249 chip 5um)
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Re: Need Help Prepping for ISS Transit

Post by marktownley »

Hope you get success with this!


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Re: Need Help Prepping for ISS Transit

Post by Montana »

Good luck Jack. Make sure you have a clock with you which is accurate, log on to Greenwich Mean time online or have a GPS clock with you. Start imaging 45 seconds before the time and make sure that the capture software is set to 'Unlimited'!!! very important as you don't want capture to stop after 1000 frames or so.

If you click on the Calsky link. It has a picture of the ISS on the left hand side of the alert. Click on it and it will take you to a drawing which will show you exactly how it will cross the path of the Sun. If there are any large sunspots on the disc it also draws these on and so it can help with orientation. However, the Sun is pretty featureless so won't help. I was lucky that I had an active region 2 weeks ago.

Alexandra


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Re: Need Help Prepping for ISS Transit

Post by Starry Jack »

Thank you, Alexandra for the advice.

FWIW, the Quark does not invert or reverse the image.

Cheers,
Jack


Explore Scientific 152mm f6.5 achromat
Aeries D-ERF
Quark Chromosphere f27 native, (f14 when focal reduced)
Mallincam .5x focal reducer (large format)
12nm Filter
ZWO174 (IMX249 chip 5um)
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Re: Need Help Prepping for ISS Transit

Post by Starry Jack »

Brilliant tip!
Here is the map of transit (thanks Alexandra).
ISS Transit Path 9-4-20.jpg
ISS Transit Path 9-4-20.jpg (40 KiB) Viewed 283 times


Explore Scientific 152mm f6.5 achromat
Aeries D-ERF
Quark Chromosphere f27 native, (f14 when focal reduced)
Mallincam .5x focal reducer (large format)
12nm Filter
ZWO174 (IMX249 chip 5um)
Huge Sense of Adventure Viewing Creation
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