Viewing ISS

[ApprenticeAstronomer 14]

Hi all,

I have managed to make a few naked eye observations of the International Space Station. It does seem to be moving quite rapidly across the sky. I was wondering how it is possible to track such a fast moving object through a small telescope?

[Freddie 2,201]

The only way you can really do this is through the finder. There are some posts in the imaging section by ejwwest and me and a sticky tutorial showing different ways of capturing an image. Hope that helps.

[Steve Ward 4,931]

It's not the easiest thing to track , certainly not visually.

For a good starter to photographing try this ,

http://www.astronomyshed.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3034

[matsey 73]

Another option is to use binoculars if you have them. I've never even attempted it with my telescope, but I have pretty easily tracked with my bins and could definitely make out some detail and shape - it's a pretty awesome sight

[LukeSkywatcher 15,838]

Not a word of a lie. I once manually tracked the ISS with a pair of 10X50 bins and conditions were so perfect that i could make out shape on it. The main body looked like a bullet but i saw two very distinct rectangle shapes (one on either side) which were obviously solar panels.

I also have a short vidoe clip of the ISS taken with my digital camera. Its just a bright light traveling across the sky.

Edited June 19, 2012 by LukeSkywatcher

[SeedyF 88]

The only way you can really do this is through the finder. There are some posts in the imaging section by ejwwest and me and a sticky tutorial showing different ways of capturing an image. Hope that helps.

Wow, I just read that thread. I reckon I will need some ninja skills setting up and manoeuvring the dob to get an image.

But you know what - I'm going to try maybe when it actually gets dark some time before 11PM.