It’s been a while since I last posted to my website, so it felt appropriate to finally come back with some news. I changed location recently and moved back to Hungary from London. I have lived there for almost 15 years, London is the place where I first purchased my a telescope, I immersed myself into astronomy and astrophotography. All started with an 8″ dobsonian telescope on an EQ-5 mount, first visual observations, then quickly escalated to planetary photography and also to ISS photography. To me taking photos of the International Space Station was always related to London or United Kingdom.

This is why it felt so strange and unusual to see the ISS taking different paths in the sky compared to London. From the UK the space station is always passing right overhead or toward the southern portion of the sky, from west to east. But in Hungary it varies. It sometimes visible toward north and sometimes toward south. It is a great thing, because I love doing long exposure photography, so this gives more flexibility on what objects I can include to an ISS flyby. I already tested long exposure ISS photography, I chose a hungarian catholic church as a foreground. This church is located in my hometown Mátészalka and I am happy for the composition.

Catholic church with the International Space Station 

Of course I could not wait to try myself here in Hungary once again. I had no time for astrophotograpy and especially for ISS photography. As usual we all doubt ourselves after a long break and wonder if I still remember how to do it. There were many more opportunities, but moving country is very difficult and somewhat stressful. By the time I received my belongings, including my scope and accessories many good opportunities were missed.

Felt strange to do the usual preparations before imaging at my fater’s backyard. End of summer, actually early autumn, but the weather was still very summary. I have conducted two imaging sessions.One night for example, during the very first attempt I realised that small allen key is missing what I use to align the secondary mirror. Time was ticking away and I didn’t have the tool to actually tackle the problem.

In September eventually I had two good imaging sessions!

18th September

After a very very long brake and a few screwed up attempt finally the first result that looked like the ones I used to take. It is not like riding a bicycle, if you don’t practice it, it’s won’t happen…

29th September

This one was a good one. Well due bad atmosphere is actually wasn’t that great, most of the frames ended up being rubbish. But the ones were good, they were really good!

But very soon change is around – I was already nurturing the idea of going motorized…. Look for the next post coming soon…