Capturing the SpaceX satellites in Blenheim

Thursday, 27 February 2020

While it might not be your average bedtime routine, youngsters Finn and Oscar Cunningham have taken up stargazing. 

It might be because dad, Julian Cunningham, has a keen interest in photography, having first picked up the camera 'about a year ago'. 

The three were out on Hammerichs Road on February 20 and 21, when Julian captured Elon Musk's SpaceX satellites. 

The 60 satellites were released into orbit on February 18, 24 hours later than initially scheduled, due to a technical issue.

**READ MORE:

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* 'Strange lights' seen traversing the night sky

* Elon Musk unveils his plan for 'Starship', his rocket designed to take humans to Mars**

The satellites are part of SpaceX's plan to create a massive constellation of small broadband satellites to boost internet connections. The company launched its first batch of 60 satellites in May, 2019, and hopes to finish the project in 2027.

By then, the network could include up to 42,000 satellites - there are almost 300 satellites in orbit currently.

Nine-year-old Finn said he counted all 60 of the satellites. 

While the satellites were not stars, he said he also saw constellation 'the Pot'. 

Reading a book his mum had given him, he pointed to Leo and Hercules as the next constellations he wanted to see. 

'I want to keep looking for different things,' he said. 

Julian used a 25 second exposure on his camera to shoot the photos - which meant they were captured in a line, rather than in the dots they can be seen visually. 

'I've mostly learnt how to use my camera by watching YouTube videos,' he said.

'The gear isn't really that expensive.' 

He used an app on his phone to track the satellites. 

He said he often shot water and star photos up the Awatere, one of the better spots in Marlborough to get away from light pollution.