Rare double satellite pass

Nothing But Net · 03-09-2006, 11:15 PM

It was such a beautiful and clear day in Houston, I decided to to check out satellite overflys. After a minute there was the realization that two were going over at the same time. I have four minutes to set up and catch it.

Moon at top left, Orion at top right. To the lower left of center is the Hubble Space Telescope heading West to East, and just to the right of center is an Iridium flare, number 56 I believe, heading North to South.

<img src="http://www.newzucanuze.com/images/SatPassFull.jpg">

A full res version is <a href="http://www.newzucanuze.com/images/SatPassFull.tif">here</a>.

BrianR · 03-09-2006, 11:31 PM

Welcome back NBN. We've missed you.

Next time I'm in TX...

xoxoxoBruce · 03-10-2006, 03:54 AM

How long was the exposure?

Nothing But Net · 03-10-2006, 04:27 AM

8 seconds, Bruce. Timing is critical bacuase the flares only last about 10 seconds or so.

Pie · 03-10-2006, 09:35 AM

Beautiful!

Elspode · 03-10-2006, 12:45 PM

Couldn't make 'em out on the posted pic, but the giant .tif shows them really well! Might try to blacken the background a bit, though.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-10-2006, 06:55 PM

That may be your monitor. The posted pic on mine is as black as possible and I can make them out, but it's not easy.

Pretty damn good shooting with 10 minutes to get ready and a 10 second window, plus a huge amount of sky where they weren't. Make that man a sniper.

Elspode · 03-11-2006, 06:29 PM

You are absolutely right, Bruce. I just looked at it here on my much nicer 19" HP LCD monitor (as opposed to 17" POS at work), and there the tracks are, plain as day. Now I've got to d/l the tiff here, because it will be that much better!

I should have known that NBN knew his shit. I'm a doofus sometimes.

FloridaDragon · 03-13-2006, 08:05 PM

Awesome! I have managed to see a few satellites in the distant past (usually when up in the mountains of Colorado) but have never captured any on film. Too much light pollution where I am now but I still want to get a new telescope one of these days anyway.

Orion in the upper right sure makes a good reference point

NoBarkDawg · 04-10-2006, 08:32 AM

Nice capture on the sats. You into astronomy at all?

MaggieL · 05-01-2006, 08:30 AM

I do some hobby work with satellites too...:-)

03-09-2006, 11:15 PM	#1
Nothing But Net Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 1,481	Rare double satellite pass It was such a beautiful and clear day in Houston, I decided to to check out satellite overflys. After a minute there was the realization that two were going over at the same time. I have four minutes to set up and catch it. Moon at top left, Orion at top right. To the lower left of center is the Hubble Space Telescope heading West to East, and just to the right of center is an Iridium flare, number 56 I believe, heading North to South. <img src="http://www.newzucanuze.com/images/SatPassFull.jpg"> A full res version is <a href="http://www.newzucanuze.com/images/SatPassFull.tif">here</a>.

03-09-2006, 11:31 PM	#2
BrianR Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,338	Welcome back NBN. We've missed you. Next time I'm in TX... __________________ Never be afraid to tell the world who you are. -- Anonymous

03-10-2006, 03:54 AM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	How long was the exposure? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-10-2006, 09:35 AM	#5
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Beautiful! __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

03-10-2006, 12:45 PM	#6
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Couldn't make 'em out on the posted pic, but the giant .tif shows them really well! Might try to blacken the background a bit, though. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

03-10-2006, 04:27 AM	#4
Nothing But Net Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Spring, Texas Posts: 1,481	8 seconds, Bruce. Timing is critical bacuase the flares only last about 10 seconds or so.

03-10-2006, 06:55 PM	#7
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	That may be your monitor. The posted pic on mine is as black as possible and I can make them out, but it's not easy. Pretty damn good shooting with 10 minutes to get ready and a 10 second window, plus a huge amount of sky where they weren't. Make that man a sniper. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. Last edited by xoxoxoBruce; 03-10-2006 at 06:58 PM.

03-11-2006, 06:29 PM	#8
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	You are absolutely right, Bruce. I just looked at it here on my much nicer 19" HP LCD monitor (as opposed to 17" POS at work), and there the tracks are, plain as day. Now I've got to d/l the tiff here, because it will be that much better! I should have known that NBN knew his shit. I'm a doofus sometimes. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

03-13-2006, 08:05 PM	#9
FloridaDragon ... Maintaining .... Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: FireAnt Hell Posts: 196	Awesome! I have managed to see a few satellites in the distant past (usually when up in the mountains of Colorado) but have never captured any on film. Too much light pollution where I am now but I still want to get a new telescope one of these days anyway. Orion in the upper right sure makes a good reference point

04-10-2006, 08:32 AM	#10
NoBarkDawg I probably have to pee Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kentucky Posts: 29	Nice capture on the sats. You into astronomy at all?

05-01-2006, 08:30 AM	#11
MaggieL in the Hour of Scampering Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Jeffersonville PA (15 mi NW of Philadelphia) Posts: 4,060	I do some hobby work with satellites too...:-) __________________ "Neither can his Mind be thought to be in Tune,whose words do jarre; nor his reason In frame, whose sentence is preposterous..."

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