Contrail Spotting in Poland

[MarcoPolo]

Hi Everybody,

I would like to share with you some of my contrail spotting videos.
That is the last one from which I am the most proud of:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMoU6HJVTDU

and here is the playlist of the rest ones:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqqwCcnmKJqR6QUn_oy5Gz8XE5HLghfO1


Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a Blue Sky! :smile:
Marek

[gonzalu]

I susbcribe to that channel. Absolutely awesome stuff. Please share any details you can about how you go about doing this form of photography... equipment, etc. :)

GReat stuff, thanks!

[Ychocky]

Insane. Keeping focus and tracking aircraft at 450mm? 500mm? Insane.

Great work!

[MarcoPolo]

Thank you Manny and Ychocky.
No, not 500mm. To be honest it is 3600mm and sometimes 8600mm (but the air has to be really clear and steady) :cool:
The Skywatcher MAK150 which I use has a focal length of 1800mm and Panasonic GH2 has a crop factor of obout 2.
Focus is controlled by a servo as I cannot touch directly the tripod head handle (in my case it is Vinten Vision Blue) - I use an old trick with a rubber band to control the telescope movement as well to avoid vibrations from fingers and hand.
All the stuff should be carefully counterweighted - I am using now two 12V gel sealed batteries as the counterweights and electric power for external 7" monitor and motorfocus.

If you have any questions I will try two satisfy your curiosity.

One drawback of that equipment is that you cannot hide it into your pocket or even into a single bag :biggrin:.

Cheers, Marek

[emk1219]

Marek,
Many thanks and welcome,
awesome work amazing indeed,
if i may ask what program and how to you manage to identify the airplanes passing overhead,

Thanks

[lijk604]

Thank you Manny and Ychocky.
No, not 500mm. To be honest it is 3600mm and sometimes 8600mm (but the air has to be really clear and steady) :cool:
The Skywatcher MAK150 which I use has a focal length of 1800mm and Panasonic GH2 has a crop factor of obout 2.
Focus is controlled by a servo as I cannot touch directly the tripod head handle (in my case it is Vinten Vision Blue) - I use an old trick with a rubber band to control the telescope movement as well to avoid vibrations from fingers and hand.
All the stuff should be carefully counterweighted - I am using now two 12V gel sealed batteries as the counterweights and electric power for external 7" monitor and motorfocus.

If you have any questions I will try two satisfy your curiosity.

One drawback of that equipment is that you cannot hide it into your pocket or even into a single bag :biggrin:.

Cheers, Marek

Marek,

The work is outstanding, and very intriguing. Can you take a phone video of the setup and how it works?
I'd be very interested in seeing that.

[MarcoPolo]

Marek,
Many thanks and welcome,
awesome work amazing indeed,
if i may ask what program and how to you manage to identify the airplanes passing overhead,

Thanks
Thanks!

Please remember that we have now that great application - http://www.flightradar24.com which was started by our Polish friend some years ago (just for Poland and Sweden at that time :smile: ):
http://www.flightradar24.com

As Android application it is really useful in the field (to not be surprised by the time and direction of an aircraft) but afterwards there is a clever playback mode of the site where you can find nearly all the planes you have photographed during past days (you need just the precise time of making a photo).

Cheers, Marek

[Zee71]

Fantastic video, and the last video in the sequence with the moon is outstanding!

[MarcoPolo]

Marek,

The work is outstanding, and very intriguing. Can you take a phone video of the setup and how it works?
I'd be very interested in seeing that.

I have the pictures of the "prototype" version (with "passive" :biggrin: counterbalance and another controls of the focus):

http://i1144.photobucket.com/albums/o493/MarekMarcoPolo/sprzt02.jpg

http://i1144.photobucket.com/albums/o493/MarekMarcoPolo/sprzt01.jpg

I will try on the first ocasion to make a video of the new setup.

Marek

[Kiffy]

Great videos! I love contrail spotting and have always wanted to get a telescope like that. Yours seems very advanced.

This video is epic, great catch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXAOkdF6394

[gonzalu]

Insane setup... I have to look more into it...

[lijk604]

Marek,

Very impressive setup! Thank you for sharing.

[MarcoPolo]

Hi All,

It seems that this topic can be refreshed now :tongue: :


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjCBvpJyf3g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZjAa9tuEi8

Enjoy watching!
Cheers, Marek

[MarcoPolo]

Hi,

I invite you to watch the third part:


http://youtu.be/28trJ8FdHO0

Cheers,
Marek

[MarcoPolo]

Hi there again!

Just a few overdue films:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I8Evf5b4LI


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5JK6ARin8U


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPTVanEqR_0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTkV0tmyfp0

Enjoy watching! :cool:

Cheers,
Marek

[727C47]

I do most of my JFK spotting in Michigan via my Celestron 15x70 astrobinos, you can see the liveries even in the mid and high Fl's, a lot of JFK inbounds and out bounds cruise the jet airways over my little town : ), ORD, YIP, PTK, and DTW too.