BTW: you can also find out if the International Space Station will be observable from your location (looks like a bright white 'star' moving slowly across the sky) by going to Heavens-Above.com:
(look for "ISS")
http://heavens-above.com/
However, you will need to first input your general location. There are several fairly easy ways of doing it. See the options at the website. I advise that you register (free) and save your location info for when you want to check again at a later date.
ping
Pretty cool!!!
Cheers
Thanx
Note: the white ISS trail that you see in this photo is due to the camera settings (shutter speed). i.e. the ISS moves across the sky at the apparent rate of a high-flying airplane. It does ZIP through the sky like a meteor, although it is traveling at about 5 miles per second (18,000 miles per hour) at its approximate 240 mile altitude.
Awesome shot, well done.
Love it.
Pleiades is my favorite.
Here’s a great website for amateur astrophotos:
(be sure to click ENLARGE where available, and explore ALL the different categories from the column on the left)
http://www.photomeeting.de/astromeeting/_index.htm
What is really strange is how many supposedly random stars fall in gently curved string-of-pearls patterns.
God is great
http://science.nasa.gov/Realtime/JTrack/3D/JTrack3D.html
Click on J-Track 3D for tracking over 900 satellites.
I’ll second the recommendation for Heavens-Above. After entering your coordinates you can bring up a whole range of satellite viewing opportunities. My favorite are the so-called Iridium Flares. If you haven’t seen one, they are really something. Because the “beam” from them is so narrow, a couple of tips are in order if you want to maximize your Iridium Flare viewing success: First, you need to know exactly where you are. One of the best ways to do this is with Google Earth - zoom in on your location and record the coordinates. On Google Earth, move your cursor to the spot you want and the coordinates are displayed at the bottom. If the coordinates are displayed in Degrees/Minutes/Seconds, open the Tools>Options tab and select Degrees, decimal minutes. These are the values you enter into Heavens-Above. Second, you need to know the exact time (flares only last a few seconds). Lastly, you need to be able to estimate azimuth and angle above the horizon. Heavens-Above will estimate magnitude, so bear in mind that the lower the number, the brighter the event; some are very bright; in the -5 or less range they are dazzling. Sorry if I went on and on, but these flares are very cool and the first one you see will shock you.
Thanks for the link. Going to try it!
*ping*
Wow! Awesome picture!
I had the Nikon f2.0 135mm lens once. probably the best lens I ever had, dont know why I sold it.
Their f2.8 80-200mm zoom lens is overrated IMO.