Jupiter & ISS size comparison

[JAICOA]

On this session I was imaging Jupiter and after the session decided to image the ISS in which was transiting here in Puerto Rico, I then removed the barlows for easier tracking and capture (FOV) and captured a short session of Jupiter with-out the barlows also. And made this image showing the size comparison using the same imaging equipment for both subjects.

[Galactic2000]

Nice comparison and great job!

[RickJ]

Interesting. I didn't realize it was that big in angular size.

Now be the first catch them both in one high power frame!

Something similar to that happened to me back in the early 60's. I was looking at Jupiter and looked back into the eyepiece the instant it exploded! It was a terrific explosion, or so it appeared. A couple seconds later I realized it was the deformed blob of Echo II. It made dozens of specular dots across Jupiter's disk blocking some of the disk. It was only in the field a fraction of a second and the effect was that of an explosion. I was so startled I jumped back. Looking up with the naked eye in time to see Jupiter appear to split in two with one part flying off at high speed. Took a few seconds to realize what had happened. Echo II, even deflated was about as bright as Jupiter though rapidly varying in brightness to a small extent so looked like excessive twinkling. A quick look in the eyepiece showed Jupiter was still there and in one piece. Took quite a while for the heart to calm down however. You get an amazing adrenaline rush when you think you just saw a planet explode!

For those too young to remember it was an aluminized mylar balloon about 120 feet in diameter. Echo 1 was 100 feet and in a highly inclined orbit while Echo II was in polar orbit. Both were experiments in passive radio and TV satellite transmission. They just acted as reflectors but it didn't take long for micrometeorites to puncture the thin aluminized mylar balloon and they quickly deflated to blobs not suited to reflecting such signals. No third satellite was ever launched.

Rick

[mahesh]

... You get an amazing adrenaline rush when you think you just saw a planet explode! ...

Oh my! One of the best lines I've ever had the good fortune to read...in a loooong time!
Thank you Mr J.

[mahesh]

Oh Mr Rivera! You make such wonderful compositions. I just love it!

Thank you for sharing your goodies.

I've been doing something for years...Sometimes when it rains, rain-spray caught on my glasses, I make my eyelids to slits and peer through the droplets, at street lights / or whatever...I can see something akin to Jupiter. With the cloud-bands! So cloudy skies don't bother me so much then. I must be going bonkers!
No, I'm not!

[JAICOA]

Thanks John, Rick, Two weeks ago it almost did capturing the ISS passing in front of Jupiter but they had a problem with the pump and adjusted there orbit and its course changed. Jupiter is approaching 50 arc sec in size and doing this comparising with the ISS at max height (Angle) it shows that its approaximately over 60 arc sec. in size. Rick you need to write a book about your experiences Lol.
Hi Mahesh, Thanks on the kind words my friend and your welcome.

[RickJ]

Rick you need to write a book about your experiences Lol.

In a sense there is such a book though I didn't write it. It contains some of my experiences as well as others in the club. At over 500 pages it covers quite a bit.

http://cs.astronomy.com/asycs/blogs/...astronomy.aspx

Lulu, Amazon and others carry it.

It also covers the time I really screwed up due to dumbth of the highest degree. But I was the only one not covered head to foot in mud due to my blunder.

Rick

[JAICOA]

Hi Rick, Thanks for the link, Going to order it .

[publiusr]

ISS? Nah--it's just the guys here stopping by for a pit stop:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jupiter_Theft

[JAICOA]

, Clear Skies.

[andyschlei]

Very interesting shot Efrain.

And a great story too, Rick.

[JAICOA]

Hi Andy, And Thanks.

[winensky]

Thanks to you both Efrain for the great comparitive composite and to Rick for his excellent commentary and amusing anecdotes. I have been away far too long. I have to agree with Rick, I am suprised at the angular size of the ISS.

[Glom]

I like the way you captured Io aswell.

[RickJ]

Welcome back Matt. I was getting worried not hearing from you for so long. Australia is not represented here like it used to be.

Rick

[JAICOA]

Hi Matt, Your welcome my friend. It sure has been some time and very glad to see you back and looking forward to see some images from down under.

Thanks Glom, I'm glad you liked it.