Re: Need inputs for shooting ISS solar transit

From: Satcom (john@satcom.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: Wed Jan 22 2014 - 21:06:07 UTC

  • Next message: Marco Langbroek: "Re: Need inputs for shooting ISS solar transit"

    Hi Sankar
    
    This page.... http://www.satcom.freeserve.co.uk/isstrans.htm from back in 
    2003 shows some of my early attempts at catching transits ....there is also 
    background information about how I went about it.
    
    I suggest you use the video option on your camera .
    Preparation is everything . You will need to monitor the predicted track of 
    ISS right up to the actual pass
    I would wait until the day before the event to finalise your  anticipated 
    location.
    Try to find somewhere right on the centre line....this will then give you a 
    margin of error.
    If possible on your first attempt , try to capture the full disk of the sun 
    at the highest resolution.
    Focus carefully so that you can see the "granular" structure of the Sun's 
    surface
    Use your GPS for accurate timing.
    Start the video running about 10 seconds before the pass then step away from 
    the tripod and let the camera settle
    
    I'm sure Thierry will be able to add a few more pointers
    
    Good luck !
    
    Regards
    
    John
    
    PlanePlotter Support
    http://www.coaa.co.uk/planeplotter.htm
    
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: "Sankaranarayanan K V" <kvsankar@gmail.com>
    To: "seesat-l" <seesat-l@satobs.org>
    Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 8:33 PM
    Subject: Need inputs for shooting ISS solar transit
    
    
    > Hello:
    >
    > CalSky predicts that there is going to be an ISS solar transit over
    > Bangalore, India (where I live) on 9th February. I am planning to attempt
    > photographing this. I have some questions related to this:
    >
    >   1. Since the event is two weeks from now, in what ways can the center
    >   line and the predicted time change over time due to change in orbit
    >   parameters? Or in other words I am trying to estimate when I should 
    > start
    >   scouting for a good location on the center line? Would 2 weeks ahead be 
    > too
    >   early or should I wait till it's about 2 or 3 days prior to the event?
    >   2. I have seen Thierry Legault's amazing pictures. But very limited
    >   information on how to prepare and photograph such a short event. It 
    > would
    >   be great if any of you can provide suggestions and tips.
    >   3. How frequent are transit events for a given piece of area on Earth?
    >
    > I have access to limited resources - I don't have a long focal length OTA
    > but just an 80mm f/6 refractor.  I have a DSLR body and am considering
    > using a long telephoto lens (with a converter). I have solar photographic
    > filter. Given this, should I shoot stills at high FPS around the transit
    > time or should I record a video and grab frames out of it to obtain good
    > stills? My 60D can shoot 5.3 fps but I need to test for how long it can do
    > without overrunning the buffer. It can also shoot a 60FPS video at 720P.
    >
    > Thanks!
    >
    > Regards
    > Sankar
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