Re: ASTRO: recc.: Meade ETX-60AT Astro Telescope?

From: hal@finney.org
Date: Wed Jan 10 2001 - 16:51:33 MST


Brent Allsop writes:
> Another thing I'd like to see is the International Space
> Station (ISS). I caught it the other night with a pair of binoculars
> but still couldn't resolve anything other than a shaky (had troubles
> holding the binoculars still) spot.

I went out and looked at the ISS the other night, just naked eye -
it was quite bright at mag 0. I use http://www.heavens-above.com/ to
check when this and other satellites will be visible from my location.
Iridium flares are fun, too, sometimes reaching a dazzling magnitude -9
for a few seconds when the geometry is just right.

I've seen satellites occasionally while using my 3.5" Questar, always
by accident. They move across the field of view in a second or two.
This is of course far faster than the sidereal drive in the telescope.

With modern computerized motor-driven scopes there are programs which will
track satellites. See http://www.hobbyspace.com/SatWatching/#SatPhotos
for some links to amazing pictures of Mir and space shuttles, as well
as links to suppliers of the software and hardware. I don't know how
cheaply you could put a system like this together, though.

Hal



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