The International Space Station (ISS) is the third brightest object in the sky (behind the sun and moon) and is readily visible with the naked eye. When the station does pass overhead, it’s usually only visible for a few minutes before it goes over the horizon.
This image is a 30″ exposure of the ISS over Garden of the Gods park in Colorado Springs, CO. The trick to getting a shot like this is to know when and where the ISS will appear. By signing up for alerts from NASA’s Spot the Station website, you can get advanced warning of viewing opportunities in your locale. Once you know the time and location, you can plan a good viewing spot.
Tech Specs:
- Nikon D800e with 14-24mm f/2.8 AFS G zoom Nikkor lens
- 30″ @f/5.6, ISO 1600
- Gitzo 2-series tripod with RRS BH-40 Ball Head
- Remote release