ISS and Circumpolar Constellations
August 04, 2010
Photographer: Miguel Claro; Miguel's Webpage
Summary Author:Miguel Claro; Jim Foster
The photo above show the track of the International Space Station (ISS) plowing through the circumpolar constellations of Ursa Major (Big Bear), Ursa Minor (Little Dipper) and Draco (the Dragon). It was snapped at 10:50 p.m.on July 10, 2010 from Peace Park in the middle of Almada City, Portugal. Note that the ISS trail increases in brightness, reaching a very bright magnitude of -3.5 which is comparable to Venus. Click on image to see "rollover" of constellations and ISS magnitude. It's clearly visible even in a city sky.
Photo details: Canon 50D camera; sum of three images of 30; F/5; ISO 800; with 10 mm lens