Home Made SatCatcher

I decided I needed something to allow me to get closer in to the Satellites for imaging. So after a short while pondering, I stumbled into an idea.

Taking a short plank of word, I drilled it to take a 1/4" WW bolt. After removing this from my tube rings, the only one long enough, I dismantled a spare Velbon tripod head and attached both the rubber on top and the base underneath. Then having manually drilled two holes in a protractor I attached it to the side of the base, and hung some string with a brass radiator key on as a plumbline. The plumbline has been enhanced with the addition of a metal washer to aid the swing of the plumbline. A compass is attached to the back by dint of a few blobs of bluetack. Then using the Alt and Az info from Heavens Above, I'm able to zoom the camera into the spot.

Here's a pic.


I've used it several times now, the flares I already posted and a couple of the recent ISS passes.