TheSkySearchers

Hi,
I caught the ISS again last night at a very high angle. This time instead of using my C8 I used an Explore Scientific 127ed triplet refractor at 950mm. I wanted to try a refractor due to no mirror slop. Even though it was 1000 mm shorter in focal length it worked great. I didn’t put together a finished still yet, but here’s a cropped and stabilized video of the 500 frames I got.
And yes, I hand held the scope again. The length made it awkward so I lay on the ground on my back aiming with a Rigel Quickfinder and aimed like a rifle. Easy pickings at 950mm.
Thanks for looking. Stills to come later.

really nice capture , thx

That's cool!!!

Seeing looks better at the zenith. I can't wait to see the still you produce from this. We'll probably be able to see the astronauts floating past a view port!

Bob

bobharmony wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 4:44 pm Seeing looks better at the zenith. I can't wait to see the still you produce from this. We'll probably be able to see the astronauts floating past a view port!

Bob

Yes seeing is far better above 65°. I won’t even attempt shooting it below 65° because the seeing/distance is bad. Honestly I don’t think it’s going to be much better than my normal shots. This was only 950mm versus my normal 2000 so the ISS is only 75 pixels across. Not a lot of pixels to work with. The sharpness is nice but the detail is a bit less than I normally get. I really wanted to try a refractor because there is no mirror to move around like a large SCT and usually triplet refractors are regarded as being optically better. The plus of using the shorter focal length was a wider FOV so more ISS frames. I had a 25 percent hit rate which is quite good for me. I have 500 images to go through later this afternoon.

Excellent work. Can't believe you hand held it. Thanks.

Michael131313 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 6:17 pm Excellent work. Can't believe you hand held it. Thanks.

I have found it’s the easiest way to capture it. Swinging the scope on a GEM with the clutches unlocked is tough near zenith. I was laying on the ground on my back and just pointing the scope and aiming with a Rigel Quickfinder.

Here’s a still made from stacking 5 frames. It’s only 63 pixels wide so it’s small but pretty sharp.

Excellent video and image Dyno!!!

Thanks for the image. Great capture Still admire your ability to hand hold it l can't get my binos to be still!!

WoW - Really Great shot - amazing you could get this hand help