Mastodawn

Mike Babin Jan 7, 2023

Christopher Becke

If you’re at the right place at the right time, with the right equipment, this is possible.

Last night, with guidance from https://transit-finder.com/, I positioned myself along the narrow line where the International #SpaceStation would pass between me and the nearly full moon.

I used a Fujifilm X-T4 shooting 4K video through a Celestron 8” SCT to capture the pass. Then, back at the computer this morning, put together these views with PIPP, Registax, and GIMP.

Quite pleased. My best yet.

International Space Station Transit Finder

This website helps plan observations of the International Space Station transit events in front of the Moon and Sun.

DJDWade Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Excellent capture! The Space Station detail is sharp!

I am Jack's Lost 404 Jan 6, 2023

...or is it a squad of Tie Fighters moving in on the moon

Awesome photos though!

SleepySpider Jan 6, 2023

@float13 came for this. Was not disappointed.

Daniel Albuschat Jan 7, 2023

@SleepySpider @float13 me too 😂

Raymond Russell Jan 6, 2023

@float13 @BeckePhysics
That's no moon!

Parag Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Quite impressive!!! Love it!

Knud Jahnke Jan 6, 2023

Very nice. Is the background moon picture just from the transit or also uses extra imagery?

Christopher Becke Jan 6, 2023

@knud I took an additional 106 video frames before/after the transit and stacked them as the base image. Then edited the ISS frames on top.

Knud Jahnke Jan 6, 2023

Also nice. So just very mild compositing, even no change in settings. I like that, even the Moon's colour came out nicely!

I'll try some day :-)

Matt Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics @knud is it registax you used to composite video into an image?

Christopher Becke Jan 6, 2023

@forelioned @knud PIPP to separate video into individual frames. RegiStax to combine frames into higher resolution image. GIMP to overlay individual ISS images.

Matt Jan 7, 2023

@BeckePhysics @knud cheers, I've just been down a rabbit hole of reading about various techniques esp lucky imaging and the point spread function. I knew there was a way to deconvolve star streaks, but I've never found the software for it, but I ended up making a simple PSF and trying to do it manually, it's actually quite hard to do.

Matt Jan 7, 2023

@BeckePhysics @knud it seems I had the technique right as per the Lucy Richardson deconvolution method, but using a Hodge Podge of software to FFT and inverse FFT with a fixed PSF did not seem to work well. But now thanks to your post I have found a few extra tools which should take the pain out of the process. I'm quite excited about what can be done here.

Knud Jahnke Jan 7, 2023

@forelioned @BeckePhysics

Proper deconvolution is challenging in the presence of noise. This went nowhere even in professional circles.

Travis Wohlrab Jan 8, 2023

@BeckePhysics @forelioned @knud
I can recommend one more piece of software that really enables peak quality: Topaz Photo AI. I especially like the the upscaling technology (Gigapixel AI) along with the ability to accurately reduce noise and enhance sharpness without any reduction in quality to the original image.

irtapillarsaurus Jan 7, 2023

@BeckePhysics @knud

so skepticism justified?

I'm still not sure what I'm looking at…

Knud Jahnke Jan 7, 2023

@irtapil @BeckePhysics

You're looking at a composite image of the ISS moving across the moon's face, observed at video speed, and the stationary moon behind it. Total sequence is probably half a second of video.

Christopher Becke Jan 7, 2023

@knud @irtapil Here’s the original video clip (to remove the skepticism), then slowed down to see the individual frames, then what post processing can reveal. So nothing added, just enhancing what’s already there.

JPK Jan 7, 2023

@BeckePhysics
Wow! The ISS is travelling so very fast, but I often think of it lazily floating in orbit. Thanks for sharing the video.

Barry Goldman Jan 7, 2023

@jpk @BeckePhysics only 90 minutes to go round the earth. pretty fast.

irtapillarsaurus Jan 8, 2023

@knud @BeckePhysics

so the multiples is artificial, but the moon looking that detailed and the ISS looking that sharp is real? 😲

🇨🇦 Jason Bouwmeester 🍁Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics nicely done!

Christopher Becke Jan 6, 2023

@JustAnotherJay Thanks! Sometimes things work out.

🇨🇦 Jason Bouwmeester 🍁Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics it's always nice when they do!

Ernst Greiner 🇪🇺Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics
looks like an Tie Fighter passing...

Aral Balkan Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Wow :)

Ellane Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics *does something mindblowingly brilliant*
Says: “Quite pleased.”

Fantastic capture, well done!!

Steve has ☕️ for brains Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Last night I met the person who writes and maintains positioning and imaging software for the Great Basin Observatory (among others):

https://greatbasinobservatory.org/

It was an amazing conversation, I love this stuff!

Great Basin Observatory | Dark Skies...Bright Minds

PhotoDavid78 📸 🟦 🇮🇱🇺🇸Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics @bergmeister those are Tie Fighters. You can’t fool me.

Awesome shot.

Stephen Greenham Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Those shots are amazing 😯

@energiepirat Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Very well done. Really. Now conspiracy theorists will talk about Aliens on the moon.🤣 🤣 🤣

IdahoLark Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics That is amazing. Congrats!

Naztronomy Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Amazing Catch!

Fauzruk Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Insane photos! How large is the time window to take this shot?

Christopher Becke Jan 6, 2023

@Fauzruk It took the ISS about half a second to cross the moon!

Travis Wohlrab Jan 6, 2023

This is brilliant, Chris! A lunar ISS transit is one of my many astrophotography desires, coupled with a solar transit. Well done and congratulations and this beautiful capture.

Christopher Becke Jan 6, 2023

@TravisWohlrab Let me know if you need any tips/tricks! Happy to share what little I know.

Travis Wohlrab Jan 8, 2023

@BeckePhysics Thanks Chris. I'm planning to get a telescope by spring, so I may indeed call upon you for some tips. You've already provided a great deal in this thread. Thanks!

CarlyTulip Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics 😲 Wow, amazing!

John Caveney woke is me🛠️Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics wow!

Kat Folland Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics That's really cool!

Jôô;Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics you can be pleased, indeed.

The Moon itself is gorgeous, even without the space station.

Raymond Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics beautiful pictures!

Ron Jette Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Wow. Your patience and skills resulted in a gift for all your followers. Thanks!

Ellen Saunders Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Nice!!!

NotPOTUS34 Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Well done!

Lucy2204 Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Impressive! 👍

argon Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics
Wow, beautiful!

Rasta™ OLD Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics Gasp. not even in my dreams. So complicated and tedious. Thanks for doing it for us, I just know I'd never get around to it.

Christopher Becke Jan 6, 2023

@Rasta Not too tough to get something, but equipment and practice helps.

Rasta™ OLD Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics I've just gotten into amateur stuff. I learn by studying others. I know the patience of a good shot, or even a bad one, if you stay up all night waiting and watching. I don't have the camera for such photos, but I've shot between cloud breaks for a whole night to get a partial eclipse. It's really tedious for me.. (ADHD) but I'm getting some night photos, mostly summer

Richard 🏳️‍🌈Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics that’s extraordinary! It’s literally like a scene from Star Wars.

OldAndCranky Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics deeply cool!

Antwane Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics this is absolutely incredible. Very good job !

dave Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics at this angle the ISS kinda looks like it's defending the moon in one of those space shooter video games.

xs4me2 Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics
OMG, it is great!

Kelley Graham Jan 6, 2023

@BeckePhysics wonderful! Thx.