 Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me. |
Forum Index : Other Stuff : Transit of Venus
| Author | Message | ||||
Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
I didn't want to miss the transit of Venus over the Sun, and was hoping to get a photo or two. I did see the last transit in 2004, and used a pinhole projector, but it didn't photograph very well. Read a few "viewing tip's" on the internet, and some sites suggested you can look at the sun using a welding filter of 14 or more. The highest I could find was a 13, so ended up buying that, plus a 5 and 9, I needed a new filter for my welding helmet anyway. At home on the day before the transit I experimented with the filters. The 13 was too bright, but the 9 and 5 together was OK to look through. I later read this method was only suitable for eclipses, in a transit the planet is too small to see clearly. Plan 2. I have a cheap telescope, and rigged up a projection panel with some wire, cardboard and white paper. 
Then aimed it at the sun, which takes a bit of work to get steady, plus your movements are backwards. 
Once focused, its amazing how much you can see. Sun spots are clear, and Venus stands out. Convincing the camera to auto focus and get its aperture right was a challenge, but I ended up getting a few pictures that I was happy with. 
The transit of Venus is a important event for Australia. If it wasn't for James Cooks scientific mission to record the transit, and then search for the great southern continent, we would now be a French speaking nation! Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
||||
| Georgen Guru  Joined: 13/09/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 462 |
Roughly 105 years for another one. But must say I wasn't overly excited with what I've seen (on the news) just got bit sad. George |
||||
| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Well it's not much to look at, just a little black dot creeping its way across a big white disc. And I know many people will see it as just that. But I like to think today there were thousands of parents and kids out side, away from the idiot boxes, doing real science in the field. We need that. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
||||
| Georgen Guru Joined: 13/09/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 462 |
[quote] just got bit sad. [/quote] Have to explain myself, I got sad for different reason, not that it is insignificant but because when I think about it I am overwhelmed with : Vastness Entophy inevitability (back to nothingness NO MATTER WHAT) Of course not in my lifetime … George |
||||
| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Ah I see, that makes sense. Yes when you see this little black dot, and realise its a planet about the same size as Earth, makes you appreciate the size and power of the Sun. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
||||
imsmooth Senior Member  Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 214 |
I watched almost the whole event on the Webcast. The sky was completely overcast where I live. Maybe in a 105 years it will be clearer. I have some interesting math deriving the distance calculations. |
||||
 Print this page |
