|
|
Post by markh on Jun 13, 2007 21:24:09 GMT
Does anyone on here keep an eye out for Iridium flares? Seeing a -8 one against a reasonably dark sky is quite impressive!
|
|
|
|
Post by reckless on Jun 13, 2007 21:37:47 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by markt on Jun 13, 2007 21:40:45 GMT
I'm a fan too ;D Nice pics btw Eric  |
|
|
|
Post by heaven31 on Jun 13, 2007 23:14:04 GMT
I've heard of these but have never looked for them, but now that I've managed to spot the ISS I'll try to find these too!  Jo x |
|
|
|
Post by markt on Jun 14, 2007 8:37:07 GMT
I've heard of these but have never looked for them, but now that I've managed to spot the ISS I'll try to find these too! Jo x Definitely! Do It!  If i'm doing a night sky tour with my non-astronomical friends I always include a Iridium Flare - their general reaction is one of awe and they can't understand how they've missed them all their life... |
|
|
|
Post by markh on Jun 14, 2007 11:39:11 GMT
Iridium flares are well worth looking out for and when they are quite bright(they can be as bright as mag -9) should be easy to see.
|
|
|
|
Post by markt on Jun 14, 2007 18:10:24 GMT
Just out of curiousity does anyone know what (approximately) the angular size of the ISS is in a typical pass?
I'm looking at all these close up pics on spaceweather people are getting of it and are wondering about having a go myself... Trouble is my equatorial mount is purely manual so this kinda restricts me...
*Dreams of owning a computer controlled GOTO mount*
|
|
|
|
Post by Jay on Jul 6, 2007 21:19:30 GMT
Some serious astrophotographer may not be pleased to have a artificial satellite streak across his otherwise perfect nebula photo but my opinion they are there, theres nothing that can be done about it so i say make the most of them, in fact i love looking at heavens above to find out when they are due, although i only bother with a really bright flare if its really late or early morning, I'm not going to wake up to see anything less bright than -6! if I'm awake i will watch any flare and of course ISS and shuttles, one of the greatest things I've seen is ISS with Atlantis flying in formation, iridium flares are relatively easy to photograph too, just look at heavens above find the time of any flares near you, point the camera in the right direction and have a camera with a bulb feature (allows you to leave shutter open for extended periods) i recommend a wide angle to maximize your chance of catching it in your shot take the shot as soon as you see it as its fairly faint at first then leave the shutter open until it disappears, you will get a streak that is narrow at one end then as it flares it widens then as it fades it goes into a spike, looks like a bright fireball pic!
|
|
