[ATMoB-discuss] Last night's ISS/STS118 pass

[Paul A. Valleli]

John,
You still got some pretty good pictures, considering
the low altitude.  The slower angular  rate also
helps.

We at Stellafane are in need of a video camera that
will record stars to 6th mag.or fainter but does not
require a PC for control. We need it to attach to
Dino Argentini's 10-inch R-C with Springfield Mount
for handicapped access as a Finder.
It needs to have an NTSC composite output via RCA
plug or S-video to be plugged into a small LCD TV.
The idea is that we will have a small table attached
to the slanted pier that will contain dome controls
and the LCD viewfinder. The mount is compact enough
to be swung around with grab handles.

I have tried a Panasonic LLL camcorder and my Canon
GL2 Fluorite, but neither goes fainter than 2nd mag.
and that, with lots of thermal noise from the CCD.

We need to stay under $300 for the camera, including
a fast lens. I can get the LCD TV for under $120 (
or a DVD player with external inputs).

I have a Russion LOMO 1st gen. night vision scope
that goes to 4th mag.  but the distortion is bad 
and no output.  2nd and 3rd generation are too
expensive.

Peter Armstrong used a silicon intensified camera
for the 24-inch R-C now at MMO.

Any member have suggestions?

Paul

---- Original message ----

  Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:33:20 -0400
  From: "John Boudreau" <jeboud at comcast.net>
  Subject: [ATMoB-discuss] Last night's ISS/STS118
  pass
  To: <atmob-discuss at atmob.org>, <nsaac at nsaac.org>

  >I was able to separately capture the ISS and the
  Shuttle Endeavour last night with my TEC140
  refractor and DMK21AF04 video camera.
  >http://home.comcast.net/~jeboud/satellites.htm
  >
  >I manually tracked them using a Telrad as a
  'gunsight' using the 'hop and stop' method.
  >
  >No color this time <g>. And while I used a Barlow
  to increase magnification vs. the June 20th
  ISS/STS117 pass, last night's pass wasn't directly
  overhead and so both spacecraft were somewhat
  further away.
  >
  >---John Boudreau
  >
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