ISS Space Station Viewing tonight. What settings?

[MT Stringer]

Here's an excerpt from a NASA email about the flyover tonight. Times are for the Houston area.

Tonight Endeavour, ISS, and Progress will all be visible over Houston. Endeavour will lead ISS by a few seconds, followed several minutes later by the Progress that will be docking to ISS tomorrow.

SATELLITE LOCAL DURATION MAX ELEV APPROACH DEPARTURE
DATE/TIME (MIN) (DEG) (DEG-DIR) (DEG-DIR)


SHUTTLE Tue Jul 28/09:16 PM 2 79 35 above NW 28 above SE
ISS Tue Jul 28/09:16 PM 3 78 33 above NW 24 above SE
PROGRESS Tue Jul 28/09:23 PM 1 53 33 above WNW 47 above SSW

I'm thinking about setting up two cameras on tripods.

1) 1D MK III with 28-75 or maybe the 17-40. Set it on "Bulb" at f/8 and let er rip. Hopefully get image streaks from all three craft. At least I hope. The times indicate I might get two streaks in the same image. Then a single of the third one.

2) 40D with Sigma 120-300 f/2.8 and 2x TC. Not sure what settings to use on this setup. Hope to be able to track the objects.

RAW, manual focus, ISO 1000...

Whatchathink?


Mike

[CaptainTom]

I think it's cloudy in Ft. Worth and I might as well not worry about it.

post your results, and good luck.

[Hanky]

This place may inspire.
http://www.spaceweather.com/

[rfortson]

Why the high ISO for the long exposure? I'd go lower ISO, I think you'll get plenty of exposure.

In fact I may give it a try myself. :) Good luck!

[d2creative]

Well I only saw the first two! Anyone else see the third???

[bondarnes]

I saw Endeavor and the ISS, but couldn't see Progress either.

[DigitalScape]

This web site will let you see what is visible by your location (via zip code): http://spaceweather.com/flybys/

[MT Stringer]

Well I only saw the first two!

Well, shucks. Sometimes it just doesn't go right. The wide angle setup didn't record anything I could use.

The telephoto go some dots! I used the 40D, Canon 100-400 @ 400 with 1.4x TC. 560mm handheld.

1) Waiting for the big show.


2) ISS Space Station directly overhead.


3) Moon shot handheld at 560mm

[rfortson]

Originally Posted by d2creative

Well I only saw the first two! Anyone else see the third???

Never did see the Progress. It was on a different track than the Shuttle and ISS, so that probably hurt. Plus, the 6 minutes of waiting for the Progress was just 6 more minutes of getting eaten by mosquitoes. :)

[billseye]

It's coming back around tonight. That same site should have the times. I saw the ISS and Shuttle but didn't get a shot worth looking at. I'm gonna try again tonight.

[MT Stringer]

Thanks Bill. I wonder if I was just a little out of focus? That rascal was scooting across the sky and I had a hard time keeping it in my viewfinder, especially at 560mm. It did seem to me that it slowed when it was directly overhead. I know that is not possible. Maybe it is just the way the orbit is. I think that is going to be my best chance of getting another shot.

[billseye]

Well, too much cloud cover over my place tonight. We get another chance Friday.

[MT Stringer]

I guess the same here to. I didn't see anything 'cept the planes taking off from Houston Intercontinental and coming straight at me up and over.

Edit: I added this later.

I was all setup and ready to capture the trail as the ISS crossed the sky, but I never did see it. Lots of clouds tonight.

While waiting, I was practicing the "Bulb" mode. Here is a pic of an airplane taking off from Houston Intercontinental Airport, and a few stars...and the neighbors leaving!

I might have to give HDR a shot with this one.

Mike