spacersundstrom.org
Web Photo Gallery: SKY: Iridium Satellite Flash
Tom Sundstrom
20 October 2000
| Back |

SpacerTaking pictures of objects flying around earth is mostly luck. Good weather, having the the right information on time and where to look helps, and figuring out the camera delay between pushing the button and shutter opening is critical. There is no second chance as the object whizzes by.

SpacerThe digital camera should have shutter speed choices running into seconds. And the final tool? Adobe Photoshop, with its Levels tool, to bring out the detail of the otherwise seeming-all-black image.

iridium_flares_57_2000-10-20_2339-08_UTC_42d_NNE_10sec_ISO100.jpg
SpacerAn Iridium Satellite flash as the bird rotated, reflecting off the left antenna, taken 20 October 2000 at 7:39:08 pm EDT. This was magnitude -4, about the brightness of Venus, fading as the satellite moved from south to north, in the NNE sky at 42 degrees elevation, a bit more than an hour after sunset. Details on seeing such satellites are at the Heavens Above Web site. The sight was spectacular. Thanks to David Hurley, N2ZHY, of Princeton, NJ, USA, for the heads up.
| Top | Home | trsc.com | w2xq.com | swlfest.com |
© TRS Consultants 1995-2003. All Rights Reserved.
4 October 2001