At 12am, I noticed that ISS (magnitude: -1.3) and Endeavour (1.0) (not sure if it's too close to ISS) will cross through the planetary alignment made by Jupiter (-1.93), Venus (-3.78), Mercury (0.06), Mars (1.29) - which appears like the constellation Canis Major. The satellites rise from the South at 06:09:20 and set at 06:13:47 at North East.
Before that, I was amazed by the achievement that Mr Shahrin Ahmad (the founder of Falak Online) achieved in which his photo was published in spaceweather.com http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=14&month=05&year=2011
And so I think: why not I share this out and there might be another awesome Malaysian astronomical achievement !! Immediately, I sent a msg to Mr. Shahrin Ahmad at 00:53am. But too late, he read it 10 minutes after the flyby..
Around 12.30am, I called another photography and astronomy enthusiast - Jiun Wai, a TARCian - to snap it tmr morning. And he successfully borrowed a DSLR from a friend from another room in his condo in midnight!
Didn't sleep that night - discussing the place to snap the special moment, promote the rare event and looking up for extra details till 3.30am. Forced myself to sleep but can't until I jumped up and do some more reading till 5 am, which Jiun Wai and me went to Tasik Titiawngsa, KL.
At first, JW took the pic of the moon (our first experience though). Without tripod, we used a loft of bread and the DSLR bag as our 'tripod'. Since I have never have my hands on any DSLR before, so JW will be the photographer - my savior! (without him, the picture would never exist!)
When it's about 05:55, we head off to the 'jetty' in Tasik Titiwangsa, which is reasonably far from direct lighting. (not bad for a public stargazing event) And we aimed solely on the planetary alignment, trying out all sorts of mode, brightness, contrast, exposure, ISO, etc etc (I don't know much bout these).
Finally, a very fast moving bright spot appear near KLCC (at our South), heading towards East. YES, thats it!! The ISS! I can't resolve its solar panels and sorts but what I can describe is that ISS is like a (UNblinking) bright dot, cruising at a speed jz like an airplane, jz as bright, but without blinking. People often mistaken it as an airplane...
We kept on snapping pics (3 seconds exposure), aiming at the planetary alignment. And here's what we got !!! https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.222320617794443.75119.100000495199737
Thanks to Nigel Choy who process some of the pics and that ends our 'great' achievement...
After that, we waited for the sunrise - planned to snap some photo of sunrise but it was covered by clouds and trees.. To prevent myself from getting bored, I have to snap pics using my phone and unexpectedly, I got an really awesome pic! Stayed a little longer and went back at 7:30am.
In my attempt to promote astronomy in Malaysia, I've tried something that I've never done before and experienced it myself. The 'reward' of getting the pics is indescribable. I'VE DONE IT, SO WHY DON'T YOU ?!
Clear sky !!!
Tan Simpson
Note: I've summited the to spaceweather.com. Well, not being too optimistic, but why not we try our luck! Who knows what will happen next?!
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