Posted on 11/17/2009 6:01:23 PM PST by Daffynition
German amateur astronomer Bernhard Christ was in the right place at the right time — due to very careful planning and foresight — and captured this astonishing scene:
That’s the International Space Station crossing the face of the Moon, what astronomers call a transit (like an eclipse, but when something small goes in front of something big). This image is actually a composite of several images taken in a row, with some sharpening to make it cleaner looking.
The transit only lasted for 0.4 seconds, so Christ had to be on the ball to capture this. He used a digital astronomical camera that can take what is essentially video (really just rapid still shots, but after all that’s what video is), and processed the individual frames. It’s a gorgeous image, with the Moon looking really stunning.
And if you’re wondering why he only got four shots of the ISS, look again: there is a shot of it just inside the limb of the Moon, but it’s low contrast and hard to see. Just follow the path of the ISS as it crosses the Moon and you’ll find it.
My thanks to Herr Doktor Christ for allowing me to post this picture. Well done, and vielen Dank!
We are broke. No money for this. Shut this down. please.”international” sucks!! Those bastard% aren’t paying for squat!!!
That would make a great mural. Those were really cool back in the 70’s.
BTW Sighting times for shuttle and/or ISS
Comet Hunter’s Last Look at Earth Is Haunting
This gorgeous image of a blue arc of the Earth against the blackness of space was captured by the Rosetta spacecraft as it swung by our planet.
The European Space Agency mission is on its way to intercept the comet, 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The ship will deploy a lander onto the comet’s surface, the first such attempt to be made.
To gather up the necessary energy to reach the comet out past Mars’ orbit, Rosetta needed three swings past Earth. This is its third and final flyby. It will reach the comet in early 2014.
Unlike the most famous pictures of Earth, which show most of the blue marble, this photo presents a planet in darkness, just the South Pole awash in light.
Image: ESA. High-resolution image of planet Earth from Rosetta.
I could do that with the photo editing software that came with my $49 printer. Who would know?
Thanks for the link.
When we can get away from light pollution, this is a great evening activity for all ages!
Wow ! Great pic Daffy !
Thanks Squantos.
I think we need to look up more often! ;-D
I think long exposure nightime photography is my favorite. Still need tracking ability to really bring out the dust in the milky way.
I do .....:o)
The Leonid is something I get up early for or if a week end stay up late. I like to watch it with my night vision scope. Even the smallest of small meteors is visible with such.
Places still in Texas where no light pollution is thus we can get some good plain ole round eye views. When I was stationed in the ME, Gulf Regions the stars went down to the horizon just as if we were in the middle of the sea.
Awesome stuff.....:o)
The silohuette of the International Space Station (ISS) crossing the Moon is is clearly visible in this composite image by astroimager Ed Morana. He captured this view near Tracy, California using a 10-inch Meade LX200GPS telescope, Watec 902H CCD video camera, and other equipment.
Great stuff!
THX cc! ;-D
We never miss the Perseids or the Leonids. I was so frustrated that we had uncooperative weather for both weeks here in NE.
Indeed ...good stuff!
The Mars Express images show the shadow of the moon Phobos as it passes between the Sun and Mars (G Neukum/ESA/DLR/FU Berlin)
While I can support and promote the private [American] access to space; from a military point of view, we need to be there. And it is in that context that I support a national space program.
And from a purely Earth human point of view, we need to be in space. I would prefer that Russia and China not be the only human players.
how do you propose to pay for blasting into the moon and then lie about “there is water on the moon” ? Can you fathom the self serving lie about the hoax of H2O on the moon? What a dusty joke!!!
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