Mercury Transit of the Sun - 9th November 2006

[h0ughy (David)]

I ask this question because our society (Newcastle Astronomical Society) is supporting a public viewing event for the transit of Mercury in November. We are planning a big event and even trying to get a local radio station to be there live for the event as well (we were lucky enough to have the local ABC radio broadcast live for the transit of Venus). But we will be balancing public viewing with Astronomy and data collection, timing for the first contact etc, and hope to take images every couple of minutes to make up a mini movie of the transit with date and time etc. I am having the day off for the event in order to achieve this goal.

So what is your society doing to promote Astronomy to the masses?

[Lee]

I'm planning to be at the beach on Stockton.... figured it would be a nice low horizon....

[xstream (John)]

I think you'll find the date is Thursday 9th November Dave.

Our Society (Astronomical Society of Albury Wodonga) is doing something similar at QE2 Square in the main street of Albury.

A few of us won't be there unfortunately as we'll be on our way to Little Desert but I'm sure the others will hold a good viewing.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by plasmodium

I'm planning to be at the beach on Stockton.... figured it would be a nice low horizon....

Remember to waive at us occasionally same horizon at Nobbies

[h0ughy (David)]

EDIT : John is correct and have made adjustments to suit

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

I'll be at work, offering my colleagues a look through the scope I'll have set up in one of our carparks, weather permitting. Finally going to get me a solar filter, prolly for the Mak, but maybe the 8" Dob.

I'm still scared at the thought of looking at the Sun through a non-solar scope though, but I'll have to have a look at how these filters attach to the scope and how secure they are.

[Lee]

My JMB filter for the ED80 secures very firmly - in fact it can be a struggle to pull it off the tube, more chance actually of the dew shield falling off.....

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by janoskiss

I'll be at work, offering my colleagues a look through the scope I'll have set up in one of our carparks, weather permitting. Finally going to get me a solar filter, prolly for the Mak, but maybe the 8" Dob.

I'm still scared at the thought of looking at the Sun through a non-solar scope though, but I'll have to have a look at how these filters attach to the scope and how secure they are.

I use cloth tape to secure it after fitting, just to be sure

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

On the 9th we will be doing nothing out of the ordinary. But on the 11th we are holding a Solar Viewing day at the Snake Valley 'Rally in the Valley'. 2 days too late

[iceman (Mike)]

I'll be out with the dob + solar filter + DMK. Hope it's clear!

What time of day is it on the east coast?

PS: Renaming the thread so it can be found easier by those searching

[Mr Bob]

Anyone got a supplier for Baader solar film (or similar) in OZ (none here in NZ), havent been able to find any on the links from this site. Or has anyone got an offcut for a 6" newt they wanna sell? tia

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by iceman

I'll be out with the dob + solar filter + DMK. Hope it's clear!

What time of day is it on the east coast?

PS: Renaming the thread so it can be found easier by those searching

Now it makes my first post look stupid, not that thats hard to do. the first sentence was to flow from the heading . Curse you Moderator Mike

AS FOR THE TIME - just after sunrise until about 11am, thats not taking daylight savings into account either

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Mr Bob

Anyone got a supplier for Baader solar film (or similar) in OZ (none here in NZ), havent been able to find any on the links from this site. Or has anyone got an offcut for a 6" newt they wanna sell? tia

sirus optics? York optical? maybeAOE?

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Here is one, Mr Bob:
http://www.aoe.com.au/solarobserving.html

[ving (David)]

not sure what MAS is doing but they will do something
i dont know what i am doing tho... hopefully imaging it

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I'm going down to Brissie and will setup on the beachfront at Brighton. Watching the sun rise over Moreton Island will make it even more special.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

I might be watching the transit from a Hospital labour ward while my wife givs birth to our son. Funny watching the birth video then video of the transit,then cutting the cord, then the transit, then the baby rugged up, then the transit hehehe.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Astroman

I might be watching the transit from a Hospital labour ward while my wife givs birth to our son. Funny watching the birth video then video of the transit,then cutting the cord, then the transit, then the baby rugged up, then the transit hehehe.

Well we know you wont be viewing this from the hospital now?

[h0ughy (David)]

where NAS will be viewing from, nobbies forshore area newcastle..............

[iceman (Mike)]

I'll be there with h0ughy!