Venus 2 days out.

[tornado33]

Hi all
Here is venus 2 days from Transit. It was shot in between cloud banks with strong winds aloft so seeing wasnt great. It was so close to the Sun the suns light was just missing the secondary mirror so was an element of danger to avoid a fried camera sensor. I also used a UV/IR filter and LPS filter to reduce any IR light and to dim the sky, it worked, visually Venus was a brilliant ultra thin sliver of a crescent.

Taken with 10 inch f5.6 newtonian, MPCC coma corrector, EOS 600D (unmodded) ISO 100, 1/4000th sec. 9 images stacked in Iris. The colour of Venus looks off because of the filter.

I fear the oncoming East Coast Low will see this as the closest to Transit I get. Oh well.
Scott

[von Tom (Tom)]

Fantastic shot Scott Let's hope you have the all clear!

Tom

[erick (Eric)]

I can almost convince myself that I can see a full circle of light Scott, but probably wishful thinking rather than curvature through the atmosphere?

That is some capture! Challenging!

[h0ughy (David)]

blurry but well done mate - major technical effort given the conditions

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

That's really an achievement so close to the Sun. It kinda looks a bit like an annular eclipse the way the light curves around Venus' cloud tops.

[naskies (Dave)]

Nice work. I always admire the guys who image so closely to the sun!

[CometGuy]

Thats terrific Scott, what do you do to prevent sunlight entering the tube?

Terry

[astronobob (Bob)]

Man thats insane

[Poita (Peter)]

You are a braver man than I!

[tornado33]

Thanks all.
Sunlight did enter the tube and was reflected back, just missing the secondary mirror, hence the danger, today I tried again but despite a clear sky and getting dangerously close to the sun coming down the focuser, I could see nothing, I guess trying to spot it one day out is just too optomistic
Scott

[alan meehan (Alan)]

Nice shot Scott you are right about the closest you will get outside is looking pretty bad at the moment
AL

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by tornado33

...trying to spot it one day out is just too optomistic

Some may have another word for it

[RobF (Rob)]

Top shot Scott. I was just wondering today if this was technically feasible/safe, and you've gone and done it!

[midnight (Darrin)]

Top marks Scott for the technical achievement esp with the Newt and risk attached!

Darrin...