Mark - ISS

[Mac]

did you manage to get the software to controll your mount?

[JohnP]

Fay - Looks like tomorrow night will be the last decent pass for about 6 weeks....

John

[Fay]

Oh, 6 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sussed it out for tonight, but no good. I think there may be a chance of getting out there tomorrow. Will you try as well?

[Ian]

see if you can image the poo currently trailing behind...

[Fay]

Rushed into the garden. Managed to find a star 5 mins before ISS due & focused. Realised I needed the FR & one extension tube.

Flew to the other end of the garden, as would not have been able to see ISS in that position. Reset computer but could not find 1/1000 of sec so had to leave it on 1/2000, which seemed ok. ISS crept up & surprised me. Got it on chip, but I was moving so much it was like a firefly dancing about all over the place. Trouble was then, I know it would never have aligned, but Registax would not open it, must be because it was 356 MB!!

So, how to keep a lot more still & keep the file size low.

Any ideas?

[MarkS]

Is it an AVI file?  If so, download VirtualDub - it's designed for video editing but allows you to examine an AVI file frame by frame.  The good frames can be copied to the clipboard (one at a time using the "Video" menu - in my ancient version of VirtualDub) and then pasted into your favourite image editor (PaintShopPro? Photoshop?).  If you save those individual frames, you can open a whole load of them in Registax ...

[MarkS]

did you manage to get the software to controll your mount?

Yes - thanks Mac.  But I haven't tried it out yet ...

[Fay]

Mark, thanks for the info on VirtualDub. I have downloaded it & will try it out later. Don't hold a lot of hope though. There is a tutorial involving the program in Practical Astronomer this month.

[MarkS]

Cloud cover looks prohibitive tonight - so we'll have to wait 'til July for the next ISS attempts ...

[Fay]

That program is really promising, Mark. My AVI was too much all over the place. I sat for quite a while deleting the frames where ISS was too far off centre & opening in Registax, which did try to stack them but kept stopping as frames were still not suitable enough. Never mind, it's all practise. It was not in focus anyway! I think a lot of the problem was that I did not have time to compose myself & rest the scope on my shoulder. I was holding it in mid air!

[Mike]

....... rest the scope on my shoulder. I was holding it in mid air!

Isn't it supposed to be on a tripod?

[Fay]

I find it easier to hold the WO rather than manipulate it on the tripod. Although I will have another go with it.

[Rick]

...and as Mark's photographing them...

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/CitiesAtNight/

[MarkS]

Lovely pics - I wish it really was me taking them!

I've never seen a barn door tracker quite that complex.

[Rick]

Yeah. Gives it a whole new perspective.