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Peter Ward
15-06-2009, 01:19 PM
I'm seriously thinking about hoofing to China for this year's total solar eclipse, but did not want to haul a whole bunch of gear.

Thankfully a nice mix classic design (Questar 3.5") plus new tech (Canon 5dMKII) provided a very effective and compact "airline carry on" solution which I tested for the first time today.

http://www.atscope.com.au/BRO/gallery43.html

Apart from providing a good image scale. the strongly curved Mak corrector reduces internal reflectons and looks to be the kit I'll take this year...provided a Monsoon does not park itself over Shanghai!
iceman
15-06-2009, 01:33 PM
That's a big orange disc.

Looks nice Pete, will be good when the time comes.
astroron
15-06-2009, 01:33 PM
Great set of gear Peter:)
One nice little spot on the lower left hand limb:thumbsup:
jjjnettie
15-06-2009, 01:40 PM
There's a couple of fly specks on it.;)
Looks like a great travel combo Peter.
h0ughy
15-06-2009, 02:05 PM
looks good - be great to witness in person but your pics will do the trick
Peter Ward
15-06-2009, 03:08 PM
I think you are right! Just looked at the sun with an eyepiece and no spots at all....maybe not flyspecks, :) but certainly some dust!
Paul Haese
16-06-2009, 09:15 AM
Nice iamge scale Peter, I am gonna be limited by the carry on, so I am only taking my 400mm and tripod. Shanghai will have less time as it is further from the center line. Can you move further and escape the smog?
Peter Ward
16-06-2009, 09:51 AM
It will be a very last minute affair....I have to be in Parkes on the 18th back to SYD on the 19th, Shanghai the day after. Yes, for sure If I can get further south, I will....but my Mandarin is non-existant and I'll just be winging it.

I'm told the mag-lev train to Pudong airport (on the coast) costs peanuts and would be a good option to at least get close to the coast.
Paul Haese
16-06-2009, 12:58 PM
Hmm not sure about where the Maglev will drop you exactly. I am supposed to be at some place called the Huazhang environmental garden and as yet not been able to locate it on google maps. It is through the Southerland Astronomical Society, so I am sure it is a good place to view the eclipse. Coastal is supposed to be better in relation to the cloud chances.

Anyway a nice image and good scale you should get some quality pictures.