[AZ-Observing] Re: Latest photos: planets, Iridium flares, ISS/shuttle pass, etc.

I'll use tonight's as a test for the ISO 100 shot at 60 seconds
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Tejera" <saguaroastro@xxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 18:03
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Latest photos: planets, Iridium flares, 
ISS/shuttle pass, etc.


How about this one:

14 Jul 20:49:42 -5 56=B0 83=B0 (E ) 9.0 km (W) -8 Iridium 12

Or this one on Monday:

16 Jul 22:12:45 -7 25=B0 62=B0 (ENE) 0.6 km (W) -7 Iridium 42

Clear Skies
Rick Tejera
President, Editor SACnews
Saguaro Astronomy Club
Phoenix, Arizona
www.saguaroastro.org
saguaroastro@xxxxxxx=20
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jimmy Ray
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 17:15
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Latest photos: planets, Iridium flares,
ISS/shuttle pass, etc.

Hi Joe,

A lot of great information contained here. Should help improve my =
images.=20
Now just need to wait for just the right flare. Thank you for the =
pointers

Jimmy Ray

----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Joe Orman" <joe.orman@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2007 16:24
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Latest photos: planets, Iridium flares,=20
ISS/shuttle pass, etc.


  Yes, Provia 100F is ISO 100.  This is fairly slow film; when shooting=20
Iridium flares from the city you don't want to overexpose the =
light-polluted

sky or the foreground (as the captions to my photos stated, the houses =
were=20
illuminated by a street light).  But you need to keep the shutter open =
long=20
enough to capture the entire flare.  So based on previous experience =
with=20
night photos in my neighborhood, I came up with a baseline exposure of =
f/4,=20
60 seconds (ISO 100 film). The time given on heavens-above is for the=20
MIDPOINT of the flare; you have to open the shutter 20 to 30 seconds =
before=20
that (I keep my digital watch set within a second of the correct time).=20
Another fun challenge is planning the composition in advance using the=20
predicted altitude and azimuth of the flare -- aligning the camera, an=20
appropriately-facing house and the flare location (remember, I'm opening =
the

shutter BEFORE the flare becomes visible).  I typically use a 40mm lens =
-- =20
wide enough to keep
 everything in focus, minimize trailing, and give enough margin of error =
so=20
the flare will actually be in the frame!

  Here are examples of Iridium flares photographed in very dark skies:
  http://joeorman.shutterace.com/Meteors/Meteors_070315_32.html
  http://joeorman.shutterace.com/Meteors/Meteors_010624_10.html
  Under these conditions, you don't have to worry about overexposure, =
and=20
you can use much faster film, but you need to keep the shutter open =
longer=20
(~ 2 minutes) since the faint "tails" of the flare will show up (notice =
the=20
star trailing in the untracked image).

  I hope these tips are helpful -- if anyone takes any good flare =
images,=20
I'd enjoy seeing them.

  --Joe

Jimmy Ray wrote:
  Hi Joe,

(oh,oh here comes the nubie with his camera again) Love the way those =
flares
turned out. Couple of questions. Am I to assume the 100F slide film =
means
ISO100? Is there a street light or other close illumination in front of =
your
house? I've done a couple of "flares" but no where as neat as yours. I =
went
for a very small section of sky and 30 seconds. Trailing and focus being =
the
detriment of those images. At 60 seconds yours look spectacular.

Jimmy Ray


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Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.5/899 - Release Date: 7/13/2007 
3:41 PM

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