Astronomy, Photography and Weather

Here's a few images from last night. Caught the 23.15 BST ISS pass which was the best I have ever seen to date. It flared to rival Venus which was awesome to watch. Also, some random shots taken under a gorgeous night sky. It was so calm, quiet, with not a cloud to be seen.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/2ir0shu.jpg)

(http://i39.tinypic.com/p2915.jpg)

(http://i39.tinypic.com/2pop1s7.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/30xfthw.jpg)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/23jidt3.jpg)

(http://i44.tinypic.com/2s6ppfp.jpg)

It was an absolutely magnificent pass! Here's my shots - the ISS is bordering on overexposure here!

(http://paulni.co.uk/images/iss0905121.jpg)
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/iss0905122.jpg)
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/iss0905123.jpg)
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/iss0905124.jpg)
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/iss0905125.jpg)
(http://paulni.co.uk/images/iss0905126.jpg)

It was certainly bright, I saw this (without bothering to check details beforehand) & estimated at -3.5. Those new solar panels added by the last Shuttle mission seem to have had a major effect - am I right in thinking this is the first favourable set of evening passes since the final panels were added?

It sure is Brian, tonight will be the 3rd night of the new bright evening passes.  :)

Paul, stunning images, number 4 is amazing and really shows the intensity of that flare, for some reason my camera didn't pick this up well on the 3rd image but I would estimate mag -4.5 possibly even -5. The best ISS pass I have ever seen since the station went up. Unforgettable sight!

I was lucky enough to see all three passes last night but only got images of  one of them. here is one of the images. Been having problems with the PC and it took nearly an hour just to download this image! Totally fed up trying to get it done, however here it is.
(http://i44.tinypic.com/w4pbl.jpg)

Great compostion in both sets of photos. Looks like it was a great evening there. We're finally suppose to have some clear weather this weekend, keep the fingers crossed! As Paul mentioned, it's amazing at how much brighter (and well it should be) the ISS is now with the completed solar array.

Martin, Paul & John, great shots and all framed nicely...  :D

Thanks Steven, here's another couple from the same night.
(http://i41.tinypic.com/rrme8o.jpg)
(http://i42.tinypic.com/vi0d8w.jpg)

Nice John, like the long trail in the 2nd image with the top of Scorpius coming up over the hedge.

Nice images guys i see the weather has returned to normal again it was good while it lasted.

Thanks Jonathan, hopefully we will get some clear spells over the weekend, NLCs can't be too far away now  :)

Great Images guys! gotta see it now at its brightest

Thanks Tyler, hope you get some good views soon.

Do we ever get tired of vewing the ISS? I don't. An interesting pass tonight, though some cirrus clouds out and about. ISS about -4.

Despite a badly overexposed crescent moon, the ISS skirting by Castor and Pollux.

(http://i39.tinypic.com/2q1s2aa.jpg)

Passing just to the north of Leo

(http://i39.tinypic.com/am9xuh.jpg)

That first image is awesome Richard!!!, I love the depth, the vertical composition, and glow of the Moon on the clouds which gives an NLC-type effect. Stunning capture  :)