The Dutch Observatory

In order to be better prepared for ISS transit imaging, I prepared this overlay image composed of images made at different times with differend optical components, increasing your chances of actually capturing the transit rather than missing it.  The ISS will move accross the face of the object in a certain direction, indicated as the time of on a clock with 6 o’clock being pointing STRAIGHT DOWN at the horizon, and  3 and 9 o’clock in paralell to the horizon.  So imagine your object how it is tilted at the time of imaging in regard to the horizon. (Will move from tilted  left when it rises, straight up when it passes the Meridian and tilted right when it sets. Knowing how the Sun or the Moon are tilted and knowing the travel direction of the ISS, you can determine where the ISS will travel accross the Sun  or Moon.  The image shows the approx. size of capture with the components I used.  In all three images I used prime focus, and a DMK21AU04.AS with a 640×480 resolution, so in the composite, two of the images are reduced in size to show relationships.  Image (!) shows the size captured with a Stellarvue SV80S with focal lenght of 750mm.  Image (2) shows the same refractor but with an Antares focal reducer screwed in the nose piece of the camera, and in Image (3) I used the same Antares focal reducer/camera, but with a Celestron C11.  As you can see, unless you are on the center line of the transit, you will need to research where the ISS will transit.

I received an email with some pictures from my niece and her friend in the Netherlands of the close conjunction of Mars, Venus and Saturn (left to right). Gineke and Martin took these pictures when they were on their vacation in Switzerland. Its a very nice composition of the three just before they sink behind the mountains. Martin is also an astronomy amateur and is a member of a “Sterrenwacht” in the Netherlands. The star at 45 degrees to the left and above Mars is Porrima in Virgo.   Thanks for sharing Gineke and Martin!!

Following capturing the Sun’s transit of the ISS, we set out to capture a Moon transit.  The opportunity came on Tuesday evening at 11 minutes past midnight.  It would be an inferior transit with the ISS and moon being at an elevation of 10.6 degrees above the horizon.  In addition, at 1295 km., the ISS was three times further away than in our solar transit image.  I spend a lot of time planning and following the changes in ISS’ orbit in the days leading up to the event.  I also need to mention the help Clevis Jones gave us  with this.  Also studying the moon map to see if there was a prefered area wich we might want to try to include in the image.  I nailed it down to three possible sites and Frank Garner got us permission to setup at Mr. & Mrs Edwards property in Social Circle.  The cloud forecast was very iffy.  (See the the time-laps movie on YouTube.  The clouds finally broke five minutes before the event, and five minutes after, the moon sank behind the trees……  Here a composite image of the pass as I captured it, and an animation at approx 1/3 speed.  At the time the moon was 10.6 degrees above the horizon, the ISS at 1295 km. was three times as far from us as in our Solar transit pass from July 30st. and the seeing and transparency was terrible at this elevation.  All three of us captured the transit.  Regardless of how the images came out, this first attempt of a moon crossing was a fantastic event for all of us and a great thrill.  Thanks again to the Edwards for allowing us to be in their front pasture until long after midnight!!  

And here the YouTube movie of the transit.

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Went to Charlie Elliott for observing the Perseids.  We had a nice crowd out there!  Stayed until about 1:30 but did not see too many meteors.  However a few very nice ones and all the friends made it all worth a while.  Went home and started imaging.  Here Jupiter with the GRS and Oval-BA on August 13th.  The barge in the NTB still looks like it might split….  (Click on small image below to view full sized image)

Here an image of Jupiter on August 12. The “boring” side of Jupiter?  Not any more for now.   The disturbances in the NEB in Gary Walkers image from August 9th have become much more pronounced.  We’ll have to follow up on this.   (Click on image below for full size)

Here another image from August 11th.  This is a composite of 4 images showing 45 minutes of the planet’s rotation.  (Click image below for full size)   

Jupiter on August 11th.  One image showing the filtered images and the RGB, as well as a single RGB image.  All taken between 2:00 and 3:00 local time.  The conditions were better than average.  Watch the Oval-BA as it continues to pass the GRS.

I haven’t been able to keep up with my images.  Finished processing and uploading some images from August 10th.  Conditions were average.  Here Jupiter around 8:27 UT with the GRS rising at the following limb.  It looks like the barge in the NTB might be splitting.

The Oval BA is nicely progressing in passing the GRS.  I believe its center has a pale spot, while the area around the Oval BA is pretty dark in all filters with the exception of the North side.  Also the red barge in the NTB might be ready to split.  The red image shows the split faintly, which is more pronounced in a larger inverted image of the red channel. Click on the large image icon in the gallery for the larger image.