APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

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APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by APOD Robot » Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:05 am

Image Space Station Silhouette on the Moon

Explanation: What's that unusual spot on the Moon? It's the International Space Station. Using precise timing, the Earth-orbiting space platform was photographed in front of a partially lit gibbous Moon last month. The featured composite, taken from Payson, Arizona, USA last month, was intricately composed by combining, in part, many 1/2000-second images from a video of the ISS crossing the Moon. A close inspection of this unusually crisp ISS silhouette will reveal the outlines of numerous solar panels and trusses. The bright crater Tycho is visible on the upper left, as well as comparatively rough, light colored terrain known as highlands, and relatively smooth, dark colored areas known as maria. On-line tools can tell you when the International Space Station will be visible from your area.

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by alter-ego » Mon Dec 06, 2021 6:27 am

Nice image.
I estimate the pixel resolution at the ISS ≈ 1 meter. An astronaut on a spacewalk might be visible if face-on (maximum area) to the camera.
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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by Ann » Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:40 am

Some parts of the Moon surface look quite blue. This is a clear case of color enhancement.

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by JohnD » Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:51 am

Four years ago, when Grandson No.1 was old enough to be shown a sky object and young enough not to be sceptical, we showed him the ISS flying overhead on Christmas Eve, as Santa's Sleigh. I hope that after my criticism of the use of "Blood Moon" I may be forgiven a harmless little fable in favour of childhood wonder?

He now has a brother of that age, and so I clicked on the link above to find when the ISS might be visible, this Christmas. The link doesn't work! Try https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ and you get straight to it. Happy Observations of Santa's Sleigh, everyone!
John

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by neufer » Mon Dec 06, 2021 2:46 pm

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
JohnD wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:51 am

Four years ago, when Grandson No.1 was old enough to be shown a sky object and young enough not to be sceptical, we showed him the ISS flying overhead on Christmas Eve, as Santa's Sleigh. He now has a brother of that age, and so I clicked on the link above to find when the ISS might be visible, this Christmas. The link doesn't work! Try https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ and you get straight to it. Happy Observations of Santa's Sleigh, everyone!
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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by Chris Peterson » Mon Dec 06, 2021 2:52 pm

JohnD wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:51 am Four years ago, when Grandson No.1 was old enough to be shown a sky object and young enough not to be sceptical, we showed him the ISS flying overhead on Christmas Eve, as Santa's Sleigh. I hope that after my criticism of the use of "Blood Moon" I may be forgiven a harmless little fable in favour of childhood wonder?
The "little fable" of the ISS as Santa's sleigh pales in comparison with the huge fable of Santa!
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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by JohnD » Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:09 pm

Oh, come on, Chris! It must be true, NORAD tracks him every Christmas!
And how do those presents arrive otherwise?

Don't listen, kids, that old killjoy will have you believe next that the Tooth Fairy is in league with Colgate!

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by Chris Peterson » Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:14 pm

JohnD wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:09 pm Oh, come on, Chris! It must be true, NORAD tracks him every Christmas!
And how do those presents arrive otherwise?

Don't listen, kids, that old killjoy will have you believe next that the Tooth Fairy is in league with Colgate!
I'm not arguing against presenting the fable. Just comparing the magnitude of the fables involved here!
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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by neufer » Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:29 pm

JohnD wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:09 pm
Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 2:52 pm
The "little fable" of the ISS as Santa's sleigh pales in comparison with the huge fable of Santa!
Oh, come on, Chris! It must be true, NORAD tracks him every Christmas!
And how do those presents arrive otherwise?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus#Tracking_Santa_Claus wrote:
Click to play embedded YouTube video.

<<The origins of the NORAD Tracks Santa programme began in the United States in 1955, when a Sears Roebuck store in Colorado Springs, Colorado, gave children a number to call a "Santa hotline". The number was mistyped, resulting in children calling the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) on Christmas Eve instead. The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, received the first call for Santa and responded by claiming to children that there were signs on the radar that Santa was indeed heading south from the North Pole. In addition to providing holiday-themed entertainment, "Santa tracking" websites raise interest in space technology and exploration, serve to educate children in geography and encourage them to take an interest in science.>>
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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by JohnD » Mon Dec 06, 2021 7:35 pm

If true, then Col.Harry is not the Grinch that our Chris is!

But the Director of Ops at Norad, taking telephone callsfrom the public? Come on, urban myth!
Unless the misprint was his red, hotline desk phone!

By the way, changed my avatar for Christmas. Whoop-de-doo.

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by orin stepanek » Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:40 pm

IssMoon_McCarthy_1663.jpg
! like this ISS silhouette over the Moon! From the time I came to
Earth 'til now technology has progressed at an enormous rate! At this
rate we'll be driving flying saucers before you realize it! :mrgreen: At any
rate; it is a fantastic photo! 😉
Orin

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by orin stepanek » Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:47 pm

neufer wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:29 pm
JohnD wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:09 pm
Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 2:52 pm
The "little fable" of the ISS as Santa's sleigh pales in comparison with the huge fable of Santa!
Oh, come on, Chris! It must be true, NORAD tracks him every Christmas!
And how do those presents arrive otherwise?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus#Tracking_Santa_Claus wrote:
Click to play embedded YouTube video.

<<The origins of the NORAD Tracks Santa programme began in the United States in 1955, when a Sears Roebuck store in Colorado Springs, Colorado, gave children a number to call a "Santa hotline". The number was mistyped, resulting in children calling the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) on Christmas Eve instead. The Director of Operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, received the first call for Santa and responded by claiming to children that there were signs on the radar that Santa was indeed heading south from the North Pole. In addition to providing holiday-themed entertainment, "Santa tracking" websites raise interest in space technology and exploration, serve to educate children in geography and encourage them to take an interest in science.>>
That may be make believe; but it is way too scary! 🥶
Orin

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by johnnydeep » Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:53 pm

APOD Robot wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:05 am Image Space Station Silhouette on the Moon

Explanation: What's that unusual spot on the Moon? It's the International Space Station. Using precise timing, the Earth-orbiting space platform was photographed in front of a partially lit gibbous Moon last month. The featured composite, taken from Payson, Arizona, USA last month, was intricately composed by combining, in part, many 1/2000-second images from a video of the ISS crossing the Moon. A close inspection of this unusually crisp ISS silhouette will reveal the outlines of numerous solar panels and trusses. The bright crater Tycho is visible on the upper left, as well as comparatively rough, light colored terrain known as highlands, and relatively smooth, dark colored areas known as maria. On-line tools can tell you when the International Space Station will be visible from your area.
I'm not understanding the image composition method here. Was a separate image of the gibbous moon - sans ISS - combined with some frames from that video that does show the ISS? If so, I fail to see the purpose.
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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by orin stepanek » Mon Dec 06, 2021 10:24 pm

johnnydeep wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:53 pm
APOD Robot wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:05 am Image Space Station Silhouette on the Moon

Explanation: What's that unusual spot on the Moon? It's the International Space Station. Using precise timing, the Earth-orbiting space platform was photographed in front of a partially lit gibbous Moon last month. The featured composite, taken from Payson, Arizona, USA last month, was intricately composed by combining, in part, many 1/2000-second images from a video of the ISS crossing the Moon. A close inspection of this unusually crisp ISS silhouette will reveal the outlines of numerous solar panels and trusses. The bright crater Tycho is visible on the upper left, as well as comparatively rough, light colored terrain known as highlands, and relatively smooth, dark colored areas known as maria. On-line tools can tell you when the International Space Station will be visible from your area.
I'm not understanding the image composition method here. Was a separate image of the gibbous moon - sans ISS - combined with some frames from that video that does show the ISS? If so, I fail to see the purpose.
I didn't see the connection either; but i loved the picture of the gibbous moon!
Orin

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by Chris Peterson » Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:17 pm

johnnydeep wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:53 pm
APOD Robot wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:05 am Image Space Station Silhouette on the Moon

Explanation: What's that unusual spot on the Moon? It's the International Space Station. Using precise timing, the Earth-orbiting space platform was photographed in front of a partially lit gibbous Moon last month. The featured composite, taken from Payson, Arizona, USA last month, was intricately composed by combining, in part, many 1/2000-second images from a video of the ISS crossing the Moon. A close inspection of this unusually crisp ISS silhouette will reveal the outlines of numerous solar panels and trusses. The bright crater Tycho is visible on the upper left, as well as comparatively rough, light colored terrain known as highlands, and relatively smooth, dark colored areas known as maria. On-line tools can tell you when the International Space Station will be visible from your area.
I'm not understanding the image composition method here. Was a separate image of the gibbous moon - sans ISS - combined with some frames from that video that does show the ISS? If so, I fail to see the purpose.
Presumably to take advantage of lucky imaging algorithms to get a very high resolution ISS image.
Chris

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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by johnnydeep » Tue Dec 07, 2021 2:11 pm

Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:17 pm
johnnydeep wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:53 pm
APOD Robot wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:05 am Image Space Station Silhouette on the Moon

Explanation: What's that unusual spot on the Moon? It's the International Space Station. Using precise timing, the Earth-orbiting space platform was photographed in front of a partially lit gibbous Moon last month. The featured composite, taken from Payson, Arizona, USA last month, was intricately composed by combining, in part, many 1/2000-second images from a video of the ISS crossing the Moon. A close inspection of this unusually crisp ISS silhouette will reveal the outlines of numerous solar panels and trusses. The bright crater Tycho is visible on the upper left, as well as comparatively rough, light colored terrain known as highlands, and relatively smooth, dark colored areas known as maria. On-line tools can tell you when the International Space Station will be visible from your area.
I'm not understanding the image composition method here. Was a separate image of the gibbous moon - sans ISS - combined with some frames from that video that does show the ISS? If so, I fail to see the purpose.
Presumably to take advantage of lucky imaging algorithms to get a very high resolution ISS image.
"Lucky"? So, was the ISS really transiting the moon in the position shown here, and just the ISS was "enhanced" using frames from the video? Or is this pic composed solely from the frames of the video? Still not clear to me, but I guess it doesn't really matter...
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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by Chris Peterson » Tue Dec 07, 2021 2:18 pm

johnnydeep wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 2:11 pm
Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:17 pm
johnnydeep wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:53 pm

I'm not understanding the image composition method here. Was a separate image of the gibbous moon - sans ISS - combined with some frames from that video that does show the ISS? If so, I fail to see the purpose.
Presumably to take advantage of lucky imaging algorithms to get a very high resolution ISS image.
"Lucky"? So, was the ISS really transiting the moon in the position shown here, and just the ISS was "enhanced" using frames from the video? Or is this pic composed solely from the frames of the video? Still not clear to me, but I guess it doesn't really matter...
I don't know. If I were taking it with similar equipment, I'd build the ISS image out of the video sequence, and then overlay it on one of the single frames. That would make it a perfectly accurate representation of the event but with a higher resolution ISS image than is possible in a single frame. A perfectly reasonable technique, IMO.
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Re: APOD: Space Station Silhouette on the Moon (2021 Dec 06)

Post by johnnydeep » Tue Dec 07, 2021 8:03 pm

Chris Peterson wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 2:18 pm
johnnydeep wrote: Tue Dec 07, 2021 2:11 pm
Chris Peterson wrote: Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:17 pm
Presumably to take advantage of lucky imaging algorithms to get a very high resolution ISS image.
"Lucky"? So, was the ISS really transiting the moon in the position shown here, and just the ISS was "enhanced" using frames from the video? Or is this pic composed solely from the frames of the video? Still not clear to me, but I guess it doesn't really matter...
I don't know. If I were taking it with similar equipment, I'd build the ISS image out of the video sequence, and then overlay it on one of the single frames. That would make it a perfectly accurate representation of the event but with a higher resolution ISS image than is possible in a single frame. A perfectly reasonable technique, IMO.
I would have to agree.
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