ISS Occults Jupiter During the Day image

ISS Occults Jupiter During the Day


Acquisition Details
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Description

The image below is the first attempt to capture the ISS without transiting either the sun or moon as background and which is most difficult given the lack of contrast presented by the daytime bright sky as well as the immense difficulty in achieving perfect focus. Although the Sun was used for focusing a few minutes earlier, the absence of sunspots aggravated the situation. The ISS was captured on two successive digital images spaced approximately 0.33 seconds apart and layered to form a single composite image. The ISS was moving from the bottom right to the upper left and, as suggested by the arrows in the annotated second image, transited (occulted?) the giant gas planet. The body appearing in the center of the image below is Jupiter and whose apparent diameter of 37.53 arc-seconds is second to the passing ISS and its apparent diameter of 42.1 arc-seconds. Jupiter's current magnitude is -2.3 with a phase of 99.1%. Its elongation from the Sun was 69 degrees while Sol was at 34 degrees altitude.

  • User details
  • Anthony Ayiomamitis
  • Anthony Ayiomamitis
  • January 19, 2022