It was 6:30 pm on 24 Jan 2018. The International Space Station was due to pass directly over our part of Iowa from WSW to NE. It was 3˚F outside with more than a foot of snow on the ground. Instead of going outside, I set the iPad in the bedroom window, closed the door, and recorded the pass for 6 minutes. While I watched the spaceship cruise above the trees at 5 mi/sec, an airship also cruised over at about 0.2 mi/sec. The stars silently observed from their perches. I stayed warm.
NightCap Camera | iPad2 | ISO=1536 | 356 sec | Click to embiggen
How I See It 
Good capture. Knowing the precise speed of each ‘flying machine’ and the distance it covered in your 6 minute exposure photograph (you may have to enlarge your photo on your computer screen) are you able to determine their distance from earth.
Yes. You are correct. The airplane blinking lights have a timed sequence. That time multiplied by the speed of the plane gives the distance covered between each blink. The ISS has no blinking lights I can detect. That poses a challenge. Good question.
We may have to use additional data from your post of Aug. 25, 2018 when you captured ISS transiting the sun. 😀
I always find your posts fascinating. Take care.
That would work. The camera shutter rate is a known time and the width of the moon is known. You’re so smart. Tell Lisa I said so. She must know that already. 🙂
Lisa said, you and her will have to agree to disagree. 🙂 🙂
hmmm…
Lovely image
The Science Geek
http://www.thesciencegeek.org
Thank you. I enjoy the graceful fly-overs.
It almost appears as if the space station is closer than the aircraft. Nice work. I’m certain you anticipated this photo when you bought your house. 🙂
Maybe it looks closer because it’s brighter?
That and the path is both larger making it seem closer and continuous which also help create the illusion.
If the stars really could observe us, as we observe them, what might they think?
You people are small and cold?
That is so cool. We sure have had a rough winter, haven’t we? We are indeed small and cold. But mighty!
Thank you. I noticed the blinking plane lights as I watched ISS pass. It didn’t occur to me that they crossed paths.
Yes, the winter is getting old now. We are due to get several more inches of snow tonight and Sunday. The week ahead will stay cold.
Grumble grumble. I awoke to snow falling. 😦
Yes. Still doing it here. Looks like 5″.
About that here too. My son just spent a week in northern Wisconsin. He says they got quite a bit more. Not surprising. Beautiful but tiresome.
Sigh. We are in the midst of a kitchen remodel. Not sure why we always do these things in the winter. I’ve got windows open to combat fumes from the floor varnish that was put on yesterday, and trying to be patient, waiting for the guys to come back and bring our stove back inside. Hoping the tarp is really protecting it from the freezing rain that is falling. 😦
But last night I saw a beautiful big fat red moon!
Your kitchen must be rather cold now. I hope you can close the windows soon. The tarp is likely doing a good job. Check for mice, tho. They might smell food and explore inside it.
It was too cloudy here to see the moon. It was big and bright the few nights before. We got a little over 2″ of snow. No rain or freezing rain.
I’m glad you didn’t get the freezing rain. Many of my friends have also fallen the past few days.
The smell is nearly gone from the kitchen, and I’ve conquered the dust in there. The stove is back in, none the worse for wear thanks to the tarp. No mice, thank goodness. I hadn’t thought of that but it is a brand new stove so not a lot of cooking in it yet. Nearly done, with both the renovation and the winter! (I hope)
The end is near. I hope you will enjoy the result.
Thanks Jim. We won’t know what to do with ourselves! 😀