Transit of Venus June 6 2012
This is the last transit of Venus in our lifetime. The next is in the year 2117 so grab some eclipse glasses and take a peek.
| Look Here -> |
dont worry mate, we'll still be here.
Yeah but not alive lol.Originally Posted by mango
maybe they will have fed us to the pigs at bakers creek. hehehehehe
Where do I get eclipse glasses? I only got beer and whiskey glasses.
Then again I only have a drink after sunset, so I might skip this eclipse for this lifetime.
Update: A deletion of features that work well and ain't broke but are deemed outdated in order to add things that are up to date and broken.
Compatibility: A word soon to be deleted from our dictionaries as it is outdated.
Humans: Entities that are not only outdated but broken... AI-self-learning-update-error...terminate...terminate...
Just dont make any plans to visit Hawaii anytime soon after watching the Transit unless you want to be invited to be Lunch.
I stand unequivicably behind everything I say, I just dont ever remember saying it !!
I've never used my telescopes for solar viewing before, but I'm going to try and use my little meade etx60 on Wednesday with a welding filter taped over the end. I'm going in to BOC today to see if they have a filter big enough to cover the whole objective lens. Luckily, there are non-automatic helmets now that have quite a large filter glass. Not like the old 'Ned Kelly' slits on old helmets. Hopefully I'll find a #12 filter that's at least 60mm x 60mm.
Welding filter/mask?
Not sure how safe that would be?
number 14 welding lens seems to be the preferred
BillyGoat (04-06-12)
Some sites say >12 is ok. I have a #12 glass for my old non-auto welding helmet that we use for watching eclipses, and it's very comfortable to look at the sun. I will try and get a #14 for the telescope though.
I didn't get in to BOC yesterday, but I'm going to try again today.
Dont rely on welding glasses etc if viewing via a telescope. Its not just the brilliant light you need to block but the heat as well. If your looking through the welding glasses etc and the glass cracks due to heat, instant blindness!!!!!
The only real way to view solar events safely from the back yard using a telescope is to project the focused image onto a sheet or white paper or card!
__________________________________________________ __
Statistically, if you wait long enough, everything will happen!
Welding glass won't crack if placed over the front end of the scope. It's only dangerous if placed at the eyepiece end.
Onefella (05-06-12)
BOC didn't have large size filters, but I found filters from an independent welding supplies place that are 110mm x 130mm. Unfortunately they only had filter strength #11 which is pretty standard for 'domestic' welding. So I bought two, and theoretically have a #22 lens filter.
Trouble is, 2 x #11 filters pretty much blocks the sun out completely. It becomes quite hard to detect with the naked eye. I'm hoping it will resolve ok in the telescope.
Started thinking about attaching a camera to the 'scope today, but decided a 'live' viewing will be enough.
What time?
Depends where you are, but roughly 08:00 - 15:00.
This taken from
It turns out, two x #11 welding filters does quite well. Might try and jury-rig something to take a snapshot.
It's well under way now.
Too cloudy here
Here's my dodgy picture using binoculars some paper and digital camera, Quickly setup so picture quality isn't the best.
If I had time I would have setup the telescope.
Ok I decided to stop being lazy and made a quick rig to try and get some better shots.
Last edited by mickstv; 06-06-12 at 12:40 PM. Reason: changed top pic
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks