How to photograph SpaceX's starlink satellites?

[lovEU]

Seems like tonight we will have a good opportunity to shoot some of the Starlink satellites over here.

Can anyone suggest a fool-proof setup to me? I’m in no way experienced in astrophotography and won’t have the time for much preparation. I’ll be shooting with a Nikon D810 and one of the f/2.8 zooms (14-24, 24-70 or 70-200). No 1.4 prime available at present.

Intended shot: Not just the satellites but some foreground as well, satellites shall be captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail.

What settings will work as far as aperture, shutter speed and ISO are concerned?

Single shot vs. several shots (to be stacked)?

Thank you very much in advance!

Btw, before you ask, I’m only after capturing the special scene although I don’t like Mr. Musk’s project of the 12.000 night sky polluters …

 

[W5JCK]

Seems like tonight we will have a good opportunity to shoot some of the Starlink satellites over here.

Can anyone suggest a fool-proof setup to me? I’m in no way experienced in astrophotography and won’t have the time for much preparation. I’ll be shooting with a Nikon D810 and one of the f/2.8 zooms (14-24, 24-70 or 70-200). No 1.4 prime available at present.

Intended shot: Not just the satellites but some foreground as well, satellites shall be captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail.

What settings will work as far as aperture, shutter speed and ISO are concerned?

Single shot vs. several shots (to be stacked)?

Thank you very much in advance!

Btw, before you ask, I’m only after capturing the special scene although I don’t like Mr. Musk’s project of the 12.000 night sky polluters …

You can use a site like n2yo.com to find pass times and locations, then use that information to set up your gear in the proper direction.

I'm really not sure what you meant by "captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail." You need to be more specific as that can be interpreted multiple ways. I assume you meant you don't want to create a star trails image. But I’m not sure exactly what you meant.

All satellite images taken with your listed equipment will likely show trailing for the satellites because they move across the sky fairly quickly. You could for example take a wide angle shot using 24mm FL, set the shutter speed to 8 sec, and the result would be stars that look like points of light (no noticeable trailing) but the satellites would most likely have trails because they are moving across the sky fairly quickly. A series of shots that are stacked would create star trails and elongate the satellite trails. The only way to prevent the stars from trailing when stacking multiple images would be to either track the stars with a special mount that I doubt you would have or to use alignment/stacking software. Both are too complicated to go into in this post.

Since you probably will be shooting from a stationary tripod mount (no star tracking capability), then decide which FL you want to shoot at. None of your listed lenses will show much more than a point of light or light streak as they have FLs that are too small to show any satellite detail. So I would select the FL that gives you the FoV (field of view) you want, and divide 200 by that FL to get the shutter speed. So for example, 200 / 24mm = 8 sec shutter speed. Set the ISO to 800. You will need to take test shots to set the aperture to a level that will yield decent images. Look at my link in my signature below to learn how to focus on stars. You will need to know where in the sky the satellites will pass by, and set your camera to point at that location. You will need to know when they will pass by so you can start shooting. I would suggest using an intervalometer to take a series of shots starting just prior to the satellites pass and extending to just after the pass is finished.

If you have never taken night sky photos before, then you will likely get frustrated. This takes a LOT of practice. Don't give up though, keep practicing and eventually you will have the necessary skills to capture what you want.

 

[lovEU]

Seems like tonight we will have a good opportunity to shoot some of the Starlink satellites over here.

Can anyone suggest a fool-proof setup to me? I’m in no way experienced in astrophotography and won’t have the time for much preparation. I’ll be shooting with a Nikon D810 and one of the f/2.8 zooms (14-24, 24-70 or 70-200). No 1.4 prime available at present.

Intended shot: Not just the satellites but some foreground as well, satellites shall be captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail.

What settings will work as far as aperture, shutter speed and ISO are concerned?

Single shot vs. several shots (to be stacked)?

Thank you very much in advance!

Btw, before you ask, I’m only after capturing the special scene although I don’t like Mr. Musk’s project of the 12.000 night sky polluters …

You can use a site like n2yo.com to find pass times and locations, then use that information to set up your gear in the proper direction.

Thanks for your answer.

As for the Starlink satellites one can use the site https://findstarlink.com/

There you enter the intended coordinates and find visible times (+/- few minuntes) and the exakt direction (after clicking "details") as a result—works perfect as I could notice yesterday.

I'm really not sure what you meant by "captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail." You need to be more specific as that can be interpreted multiple ways. I assume you meant you don't want to create a star trails image. But I’m not sure exactly what you meant.

If the shutter speed is too slow one cannot identify the single satellites out of the current SpaceX's satellite swarm. Say I shoot 1 sec I'll receive a light trail only.

All satellite images taken with your listed equipment will likely show trailing for the satellites because they move across the sky fairly quickly. You could for example take a wide angle shot using 24mm FL, set the shutter speed to 8 sec, and the result would be stars that look like points of light (no noticeable trailing) but the satellites would most likely have trails because they are moving across the sky fairly quickly. A series of shots that are stacked would create star trails and elongate the satellite trails. The only way to prevent the stars from trailing when stacking multiple images would be to either track the stars with a special mount that I doubt you would have or to use alignment/stacking software. Both are too complicated to go into in this post.

You're completely right of course—no such equipment here. So my idea has been that maybe taking two shots could work somehow:

First shot exposed for capturing the satellites as single objects, no light trails.

Second shot must be taken directly after the first one and has to be exposed for the foreground.

Maye a third shot for the sky?

Then put both resp. all three of the images to PS and combine them appropriate.

Do you think this strategy could work? Switching shutter speed and ISO value would take say 5 sec before the second shot can be taken. So not so much movement of stars during that time.

If this seems to be worth an attempt then my question is: At f/2.8 what shutter speed / ISO combination can be assumed to take a sharp shot of the satellites?

Since you probably will be shooting from a stationary tripod mount (no star tracking capability), then decide which FL you want to shoot at. None of your listed lenses will show much more than a point of light or light streak as they have FLs that are too small to show any satellite detail. So I would select the FL that gives you the FoV (field of view) you want, and divide 200 by that FL to get the shutter speed. So for example, 200 / 24mm = 8 sec shutter speed. Set the ISO to 800. You will need to take test shots to set the aperture to a level that will yield decent images. Look at my link in my signature below to learn how to focus on stars.

Thanks. That's about how I've done it in my first try yesterday. "About" means your step 6 is a good addition I didn't regard so far.

You will need to know where in the sky the satellites will pass by, and set your camera to point at that location. You will need to know when they will pass by so you can start shooting. I would suggest using an intervalometer to take a series of shots starting just prior to the satellites pass and extending to just after the pass is finished.

Knowing where the satellite swarm comes along seems to be the easiest part of the task.

If you have never taken night sky photos before, then you will likely get frustrated. This takes a LOT of practice. Don't give up though, keep practicing and eventually you will have the necessary skills to capture what you want.

Frustration is what I faced yesterday And that let me remember that I got really good advice over here at dpr in some ealier times already.

 

[Lensmate]

Seems like tonight we will have a good opportunity to shoot some of the Starlink satellites over here.

Can anyone suggest a fool-proof setup to me? I’m in no way experienced in astrophotography and won’t have the time for much preparation. I’ll be shooting with a Nikon D810 and one of the f/2.8 zooms (14-24, 24-70 or 70-200). No 1.4 prime available at present.

Intended shot: Not just the satellites but some foreground as well, satellites shall be captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail.

What settings will work as far as aperture, shutter speed and ISO are concerned?

Single shot vs. several shots (to be stacked)?

Thank you very much in advance!

Btw, before you ask, I’m only after capturing the special scene although I don’t like Mr. Musk’s project of the 12.000 night sky polluters …

You can use a site like n2yo.com to find pass times and locations, then use that information to set up your gear in the proper direction.

Thanks for your answer.

As for the Starlink satellites one can use the site https://findstarlink.com/

There you enter the intended coordinates and find visible times (+/- few minuntes) and the exakt direction (after clicking "details") as a result—works perfect as I could notice yesterday.

I'm really not sure what you meant by "captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail." You need to be more specific as that can be interpreted multiple ways. I assume you meant you don't want to create a star trails image. But I’m not sure exactly what you meant.

If the shutter speed is too slow one cannot identify the single satellites out of the current SpaceX's satellite swarm. Say I shoot 1 sec I'll receive a light trail only.

All satellite images taken with your listed equipment will likely show trailing for the satellites because they move across the sky fairly quickly. You could for example take a wide angle shot using 24mm FL, set the shutter speed to 8 sec, and the result would be stars that look like points of light (no noticeable trailing) but the satellites would most likely have trails because they are moving across the sky fairly quickly. A series of shots that are stacked would create star trails and elongate the satellite trails. The only way to prevent the stars from trailing when stacking multiple images would be to either track the stars with a special mount that I doubt you would have or to use alignment/stacking software. Both are too complicated to go into in this post.

You're completely right of course—no such equipment here. So my idea has been that maybe taking two shots could work somehow:

First shot exposed for capturing the satellites as single objects, no light trails.

Second shot must be taken directly after the first one and has to be exposed for the foreground.

Maye a third shot for the sky?

Then put both resp. all three of the images to PS and combine them appropriate.

Do you think this strategy could work? Switching shutter speed and ISO value would take say 5 sec before the second shot can be taken. So not so much movement of stars during that time.

If this seems to be worth an attempt then my question is: At f/2.8 what shutter speed / ISO combination can be assumed to take a sharp shot of the satellites?

Since you probably will be shooting from a stationary tripod mount (no star tracking capability), then decide which FL you want to shoot at. None of your listed lenses will show much more than a point of light or light streak as they have FLs that are too small to show any satellite detail. So I would select the FL that gives you the FoV (field of view) you want, and divide 200 by that FL to get the shutter speed. So for example, 200 / 24mm = 8 sec shutter speed. Set the ISO to 800. You will need to take test shots to set the aperture to a level that will yield decent images. Look at my link in my signature below to learn how to focus on stars.

Thanks. That's about how I've done it in my first try yesterday. "About" means your step 6 is a good addition I didn't regard so far.

You will need to know where in the sky the satellites will pass by, and set your camera to point at that location. You will need to know when they will pass by so you can start shooting. I would suggest using an intervalometer to take a series of shots starting just prior to the satellites pass and extending to just after the pass is finished.

Knowing where the satellite swarm comes along seems to be the easiest part of the task.

If you have never taken night sky photos before, then you will likely get frustrated. This takes a LOT of practice. Don't give up though, keep practicing and eventually you will have the necessary skills to capture what you want.

Frustration is what I faced yesterday And that let me remember that I got really good advice over here at dpr in some ealier times already.

So did you ever get any captures after all this time?

-M

 

[CharlesPhillips]

You will get some good information from my site:

Optical Satellite Tracking

This site is to document how to track satellites - computerized mounts and telescopes help. It might be called "how to track satellites more easily, using common cameras or even computerized tracking systems" but that name is too long. At first this site is going to describe how to track with a

sites.google.com

though I do include some information about Astrometry that you will not need. I use my Nikon D200 to photograph satellites in the winter (when the seeing is decent) so not all of my web page will be applicable.

Generally - plan to use a focal length of about 40 to 60 mm, ISO 800. The satellite will appear as a streak where the length depends on exposure time of course. I am trying to photograph and NOT get any Starlink satellites, there are others that I am going after.

For pointing - I have an app on my iPhone (Orbitrack) and hold the phone against the back of the camera to point it. Not an elegant solution but effective.

Seems like tonight we will have a good opportunity to shoot some of the Starlink satellites over here.

Can anyone suggest a fool-proof setup to me? I’m in no way experienced in astrophotography and won’t have the time for much preparation. I’ll be shooting with a Nikon D810 and one of the f/2.8 zooms (14-24, 24-70 or 70-200). No 1.4 prime available at present.

Intended shot: Not just the satellites but some foreground as well, satellites shall be captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail.

What settings will work as far as aperture, shutter speed and ISO are concerned?

Single shot vs. several shots (to be stacked)?

Thank you very much in advance!

Btw, before you ask, I’m only after capturing the special scene although I don’t like Mr. Musk’s project of the 12.000 night sky polluters …

You can use a site like n2yo.com to find pass times and locations, then use that information to set up your gear in the proper direction.

I'm really not sure what you meant by "captured as single objects and not combined to a light trail." You need to be more specific as that can be interpreted multiple ways. I assume you meant you don't want to create a star trails image. But I’m not sure exactly what you meant.

If you take a short exposure you might get the satellites but you will not be able to tell them from stars, you need a longer exposure to identify the satellite.

All satellite images taken with your listed equipment will likely show trailing for the satellites because they move across the sky fairly quickly. You could for example take a wide angle shot using 24mm FL, set the shutter speed to 8 sec, and the result would be stars that look like points of light (no noticeable trailing) but the satellites would most likely have trails because they are moving across the sky fairly quickly. A series of shots that are stacked would create star trails and elongate the satellite trails. The only way to prevent the stars from trailing when stacking multiple images would be to either track the stars with a special mount that I doubt you would have or to use alignment/stacking software. Both are too complicated to go into in this post.

Since you probably will be shooting from a stationary tripod mount (no star tracking capability), then decide which FL you want to shoot at. None of your listed lenses will show much more than a point of light or light streak as they have FLs that are too small to show any satellite detail. So I would select the FL that gives you the FoV (field of view) you want, and divide 200 by that FL to get the shutter speed. So for example, 200 / 24mm = 8 sec shutter speed. Set the ISO to 800. You will need to take test shots to set the aperture to a level that will yield decent images. Look at my link in my signature below to learn how to focus on stars. You will need to know where in the sky the satellites will pass by, and set your camera to point at that location. You will need to know when they will pass by so you can start shooting. I would suggest using an intervalometer to take a series of shots starting just prior to the satellites pass and extending to just after the pass is finished.

If you have never taken night sky photos before, then you will likely get frustrated. This takes a LOT of practice. Don't give up though, keep practicing and eventually you will have the necessary skills to capture what you want.

With my setup I got satellites on the first attempt.

Does this help?

 

[Lensmate]

Last May I was out shooting a lightning storm that suddenly cleared up leaving the sky crystal clear. I just happened to notice the starlink satellites passing overhead so I just quickly video taped the sequence. Took a snap screen shot from the video and PS'ed to this...




starlink sats

-M