ISS Solar Transit

[brianb]

The sky cleared this afternoon and I managed to catch the ISS in transit across the Sun! (Predicted by Calsky)

2010 Nov 10, 1450 UT. Solarscope 60, prime focus, DMK41. Single raw frame.

Sorry but the quality is rather poor, the sun's low altitude (only 10 degrees) didn't help, and neither did the jet stream which was just starting to spread cirrostratus from the next weather system across the sky.

I've uploaded a 60 frame GIF animation of this event (here) but be warned that it's a 12 megabyte download - it will probably take a while to arrive.

[Merlin66]

Woooo

great catch!!!

well done....

(sitting here with a 90mm double stacked PST etalon just waiting to test!!)

[barkis]

Looks good to me. No mistaking the shape, which one could hardly mistake for anything else.

Neat bit of work.

Ron.

[Dave]

I am always surprised how quickly the ISS transits the Sun.

Less than half a second I believe.

So very well done on capturing that moment.

[brianb]

I am always surprised how quickly the ISS transits the Sun.

Less than half a second I believe.

The animation runs at about 1/4 "live" speed - it was shot at 15 fps and plays back at 4 fps. This particular transit was a distant one and lasted just over 3 seconds at my location.

[Ant]

That's excellent Brian - Well done, great capture.

Ant

[yeti monster]

Excellent work Brian, well captured.

[brianb]

Thanks guys ... I've tried a few times to get an ISS transit of sun or moon, this is the first time that the weather's cooperated (and that cooperation was unexpected too, with the major storm arriving hot on its heels). This transit was not a favourable one - low and distant - but at least it shows what is possible.

[ollypenrice]

Splendid! A three second window is not all that image-friendly so nice one, Brian.

Olly

[Astrokev]

Great capture!

[LukeSkywatcher]

Thats just cool.

[rabbithutch]

If you feel the need to apologize, well . . . considered the apology accepted; but there is absolutely no reason to apologize for that shot.

Do my eyes deceive me or can I see the solar panels?

Amazingly beautiful work, Brian!

Thank you for sharing it.

[Mick UK]

Excellent stuff Brian, i really love the Gif animation, i never realised the ISS transited the sun so quickly!

Thanks for posting it:icon_salut:

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Really nice! I get the kids to see this one, they'll be amazed.

[MikeD]

or should i say...

Mike.

[beamish]

Superb work Brian !! The Giff is amazing and would certainly get my vote for POW !

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Superb work Brian !! The Giff is amazing and would certainly get my vote for POW !

Seconded!!

[crabbiT Scot]

One word for that - AMAZING!!!

Well done

[SeedyF]

I love it - great shot

[Earl]

ISS shots always look like Tie-Bombers

[Pete Presland]

how do you find out when its going to happen

[NickH]

Brilliant Brian...well done on a great snap!

[brianb]

how do you find out when its going to happen

http://calsky.com/

[NickH]

And I hope you can stack the other frames you caught, colour it up and recomposite the ISS back in..then, we can have a chat :-)...

[Tim]

Brilliant!

"I love it when a plan comes together!"

Well done Brian, you'll be rivalling that French chap