Amazing shots of International Space Station over Swindon (and here’s when you can see it next) – Swindon Advertiser

THE coronavirus lockdown has provided the perfect opportunity for stargazers to catch a glimpse of the International Space Station.

The fast-moving ISS orbits the planet 16 times a day at 17,500mph. Plummeting air pollution levels and a lack of planes in the sky have made it easier to spot on a clear night.

Gareth Breen, a map-maker from Covingham, has always had an interest in photography but it took the government restrictions for him to put some effort into his newfound hobby.

He told the Adver: It was basically to stave off boredom a little bit, but Ive always been interested in space observation, the night sky and photography in general.

Ive had a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex camera) for about 10 years and never known how to use it.

With all this extra time weve had its just the perfect opportunity to try something new.

Gareth used information from YouTube and Google to get himself set up and shared some tips with the Adver for those looking to match his amazing results.

He said: I used an app on my phone thats a star chart which you can point at the sky and itll tell you whats there. One app called Heavens Above will show you a live feed of all the satellites and the space station and when itll be overhead and how long for.

So youve then got time to set up your camera.

With the photos themselves, dependent on the light or how dark the sky is, you can set the exposures and the ISO and aperture to allow as much light into the camera as possible so it captures the station going across the sky.

How long you leave the shutter open and how big the aperture is will affect what you see. Its about the amount of time the shutter is open.

Its a lot of trial and error, my wife was quite happy because I was out in the back garden for an hour or two just testing things out.

To find out when the space station will next be over Swindon you visit spotthestation.nasa.gov/home.cfm

View original post here:
Amazing shots of International Space Station over Swindon (and here's when you can see it next) - Swindon Advertiser