Images of ISS, Space Shuttle and other spaceflight objects by Ralf Vandebergh

Telescopic Spaceflight Images

small aperture High Resolution Imagery of:

Space Station, Satellites and Debris

By Ralf Vandebergh

The used instrument is a high quality optics, lightweight constructional 10 inch (0.25m) Newtonian reflecting telescope.
Tracking of objects is accomplished fully manually using an attached smaller secondary scope at a low magnification.
Imaging technique and setup is standardised, and the object paths across the sky are prepared for manual alignment.
Best results occur when lighting angle, viewing angle, seeing, distance and other factors of objects are favorable.
Original images are mostly taken in color to obtain the maximum possible information of the objects.
Imaging technique & equipment, a clear short explanation: http://www.startje.be//vieuw.php?qid=382021
Articles about observing experiences: http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/author/ralf-vandebergh/
New observations, additional experiences and visual satellite sightings are regularly reported on:
twitter.com/ralfvandebergh__________________________________________________________________________

Latest Human spaceflight images: http://www.startje.be//vieuw.php?qid=347203 new!

Latest Satellite / Rocket images: http://www.startje.be/vieuw.php?qid=357824 new!

Samples of Ralf Vandebergh's older PLANETARY work

2004 Venus transit: Aureole (Venus atmosphere) new!

Saturn close up 2004

Saturn and moons

_____________________________________________________________________

STS-133 Astronaut in Spacewalk (EVA-2)! ~ Ground-Based Images March 2011

STS-119 Astronaut in Spacewalk (EVA-2)! ~ Ground-Based Images March 2009

A human in space as seen from the ground, recently still a dream, now realized. STS-133 astronaut Steve Bowen during a spacewalk captured in March 2011

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Space Shuttle Discovery taken in excellent steady air thanks to volcanic dust from eruptions of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano

in Iceland just a few days before the pass

_____________________________________________________________________________

Selection of best 2009 / 2008 images:

The ISS in 2008, still under construction, seen under a very special angle of illumination. Note the Columbus module

(right from the mid) yet without the company of the Kibo module)

ISS with Robot Dextre and KU-band Antenna, Dec 15, 2009:

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/5921/iss091215dextre2.jpg

Possible visibility of nadir-window ISS Destiny Lab, Dec 15, 2009:

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/8370/destinywindow091215.jpg

Close-up ISS with Destiny, Quest Airlock, Dextre, Dec 15, 2009:

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/a6174fda8a0c988fe0988647a6cb0a4d.jpg

ISS, Dec 15, 2009, Sun at -3° (special illumination truss structure)

http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/12532419/img/Anonymous/ISS-20091215-cols.jpg

http://www5.picturepush.com/photo/a/12532403/img/Anonymous/ISS-20091215-bws.jpg

http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/12532404/img/Anonymous/ISS-20091215col-bw4a.gif

ISS, Dec 15, 2009, lower observing angle, good view ELM-PS:

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/4a11238309b06a7f0bc0add32ae3c108.jpg

Close-up ISS-JEM (with Exposed Facility JEF), Dec 15, 09:

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3421/jef091215anno.jpg

STS-129, newly added ELC-2 & temp. HiPr Ox GasTank, Nov 22, 09:

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5492/sts129elc22009111922ct.jpg

ISS detail central part (Ku-Band Antenna, PMA-3, ESP-2) , Sept 19, 2009:

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/d365d3c01a931a18261fcc40e4d64de9.jpg

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/2cd48a3432187e65565dd917447cc97a.jpg

ISS overview image with Progress 34 (M-67), Sept 19, 2009:

http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/443/iss090919205807t1.jpg

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-1) approaches ISS, Sept 17, 09:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/387/imagee03e4e69cc41.jpg

Movie: HTV-1 close to ISS during approach, Sept 17, 2009:

http://www2.picturepush.com/photo/a/7815950/img/Anonymous/o090917a2.gif

http://www4.picturepush.com/photo/a/11988137/1024/Anonymous/ISS-HTV1-20090917.gif (Large)

H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-1), taken 3 days after launch, Sept 13, 09:

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/6283/htv120090913212858triot.jpg

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/1630/o090913a3.jpg

http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/8629/o090913a4.jpg

Beautiful colors reflecting on the ISS in this image from 2008. Note the striking blue color, especially visible

on the metallic surfaces, which is reflected Earth light. (full size)

STS-128 Discovery & Cockpit seen from 394km, Aug 30, 2009:

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3162/sts12820090830060912set.jpg

ISS new additions STS-127 Japanese Exposed Facility:

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/8666/issjef20090830c.jpg

STS-127 Endeavour docked to ISS, July 17, 2009:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7600/sts12720090717222305new.jpg

ISS, April 29, 2009, nice viewing & lighting angle:

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/80381e6ab32afeac2adcdf3dd3201155.jpg

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/c04868dab99539528cba44cf42d6014a.jpg

STS-119 Discovery solo after undock, March 27, 2009:

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/3e78ac52ffc1a9a58d5d6592c38b1767.jpg

STS-119 Discovery docked, empty Payload Bay, March 20, 09:

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/4791/sts11920090320b5.jpg

STS-119 & ISS: first Earth-based image new S6 Solar Panel:

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/999/iss20090320news6panel.jpg

http://alpo-j.asahikawa-med.ac.jp/kk09/o090320a4.jpg

STS-119 Discovery seen from 622 km! March 17, 09:

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5328/sts119090317t2.jpg

ISS, good view Zvezda Lira antenna, Jan 29, 2009:

http://alpo-j.asahikawa-med.ac.jp/kk09/o090129a4.jpg

http://alpo-j.asahikawa-med.ac.jp/kk09/o090129a1.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/6656/o090129a2.jpg

ISS, Russian modules, retracted Zarya solar panels:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9695/o090125a1.jpg

Reflections of Earth (presented on APOD):

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090116.html

Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), July 14, 2009:

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/3fca7508781445c7311a05632abad4c7.jpg

http://alpo-j.asahikawa-med.ac.jp/kk09/o090714z.htm

ISS and (solo) Progress M-66 (P32) and Progress M-02M (P33):

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/63da4e2bd82bb125a518b3e7b1086b45.jpg

http://freeimagehosting.nl/pics/43e625ff5e57f8b01ff53e557e759dba.jpg

ISS, Dec 29, 2008 & labelled truss structure:

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/5793/o081229a1.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2843/o081229a2.jpg

Close-up of the ISS central part taken in 2009, with below the completed Kibo lab (left) and Columbus lab (right). Note the tilted S1 radiators at the right side