NanoSail-D

[MarkS]

Today's APOD is NanoSail-D
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110128.html

Here's the competition to photograph it:
http://www.nanosail.org/

It can be found on Heavens Above:
http://heavens-above.com/

Tomorrow (Sat) afternoon at around 5pm is a definite possibility from Orpington. 

Mark

[Rick]

Tomorrow (Sat) afternoon at around 5pm is a definite possibility from Orpington.

...but not easy. Good luck!

Satellite predictions with favourable viewing geometry (>20) for:

Ground Station    : High Elms, Farnborough, Kent, England   ---   JO01AI
Time Zone         : UTC (+0.00 h)
                          in eclipse *  in daylight o
                                     ^              ^
Date       Rising at    Peak elevation      Setting    Height Satellite
Y M D  Time      Az.  Time      Az. El  Time      Az. (peak) Name
======  ========= ===  ========= === ==  ========= === ====== =========

110128  14:54:47o 169  15:01:01o 103 23  15:07:16o  38        NanoSail-D
110128  16:33:19o 220  16:40:12o 304 54  16:47:05o  27        NanoSail-D
110128  23:20:09* 338  23:26:16*  43 20  23:32:30* 110        NanoSail-D
110129  00:59:35* 330  01:06:21* 238 75  01:13:06* 159        NanoSail-D
110129  15:17:28o 189  15:24:13o 112 46  15:30:59o  33        NanoSail-D
110129  16:57:25o 238  17:03:55o 310 30  17:10:33o  24        NanoSail-D
110129  23:43:37* 336  23:50:07*  51 34  23:56:44* 127        NanoSail-D
110130  01:23:11* 326  01:29:41* 251 36  01:36:18* 177        NanoSail-D
110130  15:40:48o 207  15:47:41o 305 88  15:54:34o  29        NanoSail-D
110131  00:07:20* 333  00:13:50*  60 65  00:20:36* 145        NanoSail-D
110131  14:25:36o 174  14:31:58o 105 27  14:38:28o  36        NanoSail-D
110131  16:04:31o 225  16:11:17o 304 46  16:18:10o  26        NanoSail-D
110131  22:51:06* 337  22:57:28*  46 23  23:03:43* 114        NanoSail-D
110201  00:30:40* 329  00:37:18* 249 62  00:44:03* 163        NanoSail-D

There was a NASA press release a few days back:

NanoSail-D Ejects: NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to Listen for Beacon Signal

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 11:30 a.m. EST, engineers at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., confirmed that the NanoSail-D nanosatellite ejected from Fast Affordable Scientific and Technology Satellite, FASTSAT. The ejection event occurred spontaneously and was identified this morning when engineers at the center analyzed onboard FASTSAT telemetry. The ejection of NanoSail-D also has been confirmed by ground-based satellite tracking assets.

Amateur ham operators are asked to listen for the signal to verify NanoSail-D is operating. This information should be sent to the NanoSail-D dashboard at: http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/dashboard.htm. The NanoSail-D beacon signal can be found at 437.270 MHz.

The NanoSail-D science team is hopeful the nanosatellite is healthy and can complete its solar sail mission. After ejection, a timer within NanoSail-D begins a three-day countdown as the satellite orbits the Earth. Once the timer reaches zero, four booms will quickly deploy and the NanoSail-D sail will start to unfold to a 100-square-foot polymer sail. Within five seconds the sail fully unfurls.

From: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2011/11-009.html

See also: http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/dashboard.htm

[MarkS]

I've just realised the sail is only 3 metres across.  That equates to approx 2-3 CCD pixels (depending on height above earth) even using the C11.

It won't be a stunning picture

[mickw]

It won't be a stunning picture

Where's you're faith 

I notice that the photo competition will be judged on beauty and technical merit 
Be interesting to see how anyone makes a shiny silver square look beautiful   

[Mike]

It might just flare though. It's about the same size as an iridium.

[Rocket Pooch]

Mark,

Was the picture on APOD one of yours....


Chris

[MarkS]

Was the picture on APOD one of yours....

I wish it were!

[Tony G]

Mark,

The technique with the broom handle, and the blue-tac, should earn you 1st and 2nd prizes alone on merit and originality.

Good luck Mark, you can do it.

Tony G