[FPSPACE] Nocturnalis horibilus... ! & ISS Flare

[John Locker]

Not a very good night tonight.
Clouded out here with small breaks and in anticpation of trying to catch ISS 
through a gap I was set up and ready to go when the declination clutch on my 
Meade LX90 collapsed ( known poor design )  sending the OTA into freefall 
and knocking the viewfinder out of alignment.
In addition it also caused some mirror shift......messing up the focus 
somewhat. Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh  !

However , hanging onto the scope in cliff hanger mode with one hand and 
operating the laptop with the other I surprisingly managed to grab three 
frames as the complex sped through the only gap in the cloud..........right 
at the moment that the panels on Progress flared....

I think we can be in no doubt that it is indeed Progress flaring when in 
this flight mode , as can be seen here....

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/Flare_12july.jpg

Its also just possible to make out the tail of Endeavour.

Looks like I'm now out of the game , as far as imaging is concerned , for 
quite some time.  :O(

John