Contrail Spotting in Poland

**MarcoPolo** · 2013-12-18, 10:00 AM

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:

and here is the playlist of the rest ones:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...5Gz8XE5HLghfO1

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a Blue Sky!

Marek

**gonzalu** · 2013-12-18, 02:16 PM

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** · 2013-12-18, 02:49 PM

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

Great work!

**MarcoPolo** · 2013-12-18, 03:14 PM

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)

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

.

Cheers, Marek

**emk1219** · 2013-12-18, 03:22 PM

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** · 2013-12-18, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by 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)

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

.

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** · 2013-12-18, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by 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

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

):
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** · 2013-12-18, 04:09 PM

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

**MarcoPolo** · 2013-12-18, 04:12 PM

Originally Posted by lijk604

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"

counterbalance and another controls of the focus):

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

Marek

**Kiffy** · 2013-12-18, 04:42 PM

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!