Watch the ISS go overhead TONIGHT!!!

[simonwebb74]

Lets all pray for no clouds!!!!!

[Skywatcher]

Tip1 set your watch by an online timekeeping site like GMT so you have the right time

Tip2 go out in the garden about 10 minutes before to let your eyes become a little better dark adapted

Tip3 - use eavans above as they do an awesome star chart to let you see the progress and times ( address in my first post)

Mick on the slr you have to set the exposure to 'bulb' in manual - practice focusing on the starts well before you take the pics - manual focus all the way out to infinity then back a bit. Iso about 200 line the camera up with the area of sky we are talking about - as wide a fiewld of view as possible - I use the basic 18-55.. lens on 18. On a tripod of course and much much much better if you have a remote cable to use rather than holding down the button.

The moon sounds over exposed in your last image - go for a lower iso and a shorter exposure - it is very bright

[Skywatcher]

Oh and don't panic - flybys happen quite often - and on some nights you get 3-4 passes to watch so if you miss it tonight we will try again another day.

PLEASE let me know how you got on and also PLEASE while you are out see if you can spot Jupiter - he will be gone from the skies for a while soon so grab the chance if its clear to tick him off your list

[ukwdwnut]

Mick on the slr you have to set the exposure to 'bulb' in manual - practice focusing on the starts well before you take the pics - manual focus all the way out to infinity then back a bit. Iso about 200 line the camera up with the area of sky we are talking about - as wide a fiewld of view as possible - I use the basic 18-55.. lens on 18. On a tripod of course and much much much better if you have a remote cable to use rather than holding down the button.

The moon sounds over exposed in your last image - go for a lower iso and a shorter exposure - it is very bright

to bulb??

not seen that will go get the camera down now to have a look

wht setting on the camera?

sorry mate how do you set the FoV, im still a novice with manual settings, and terminology

moon was totally white

mmmm exposure times, how do you do that by just holding the button down, does that mean keeping the shutter open?

i my know all this but when its explained, i get fried on the terminology

[Skywatcher]

You have to use the manual settings mick - turn the knowb on th etop to the M button - then by rotating the little wheel just by the trigger button you can either increase of decrease the exposure times - shortens is 1/4000 th second - longest is bulb which means the exposure lasts as long as the button is held down. I have a lockable cable that plugs into the eos - cost bme about £5 from ebay - a 'canon' one would cost a fortune no doubt

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shutter-Cable-...d=p3286.c0.m14

[ukwdwnut]

You have to use the manual settings mick - turn the knowb on th etop to the M button - then by rotating the little wheel just by the trigger button you can either increase of decrease the exposure times - shortens is 1/4000 th second - longest is bulb which means the exposure lasts as long as the button is held down. I have a lockable cable that plugs into the eos - cost bme about £5 from ebay - a 'canon' one would cost a fortune no doubt

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shutter-Cable-...d=p3286.c0.m14

oh ok, ive never used the M setting, will have a look...oh forgot to say in my previous post, i bought a battery operated remote, for £15, so thats that bit sorted out

off to get the camera and will set it up and have a practice

[simonwebb74]

Wow, I can get a remote shutter cable for my Sony for less than £3.50!!
A purchase could be on the cards!

[Skywatcher]

ebay is great for the peripherals i have 3 spare batetries that cost me only a fiver for all three from hong kong awesome

good luck mick - focusing is everything oh and use a low iso - around 200

[Keith]

sorry mate how do you set the FoV, im still a novice with manual settings, and terminology

Field of view will basically be a result of what lens you use... you want the widest one you have, zoomed out so you can see as much of the sky as possible.

Remember that as Skywatcher says, infinity on the lenses ISNT turned all the way as you'd think, it's all the way and then inched back a bit

moon was totally white

completely overexposed as sir Skywatcher said... you'll see in the histogram everything bunched up towards the right of the screen so you've just lost all of the detail. This is why you could do with doing things manually and taking a few test shots but basically lower iso and/or open the shutter for less time

mmmm exposure times, how do you do that by just holding the button down, does that mean keeping the shutter open?

yep

If anyone doesmt have a remote shutter release, you may be able to use your cameras timed shutter release option if it has one... so set it to take a photo in 20 seconds say, leave it and voila

[simonwebb74]

I love this place, I have a brand new camera, and now I am finding out how to use it properly!