Well it did not look too good this morning,but at 7.30 am thought I'd better put an effort in to get observatory ready-lots of frantic preparation (no PPPPP here today(prior,preparation,prevents,po or,performance).But managed to get two scopes combat ready,one with camera.
All I wanted was just one image of the historic event,well the clouds cleared right on 8.16 am! and have been able to witness and take photo's,I allowed my son to stay at home,and he is currently doing some sort of time lapse with his gear.He has been taking photos with phone camera held up to a 7 mm naglar which is through a ED 81 scope,and getting some good images.They will be uploaded to 'chatter box',and I discussed with him how captain Cook went to South Pacfic and all what happened,here now we can send those images in an instant anywhere in the world in a heart beat-poor old Cook,had a bad time getting all his data back to England back then,even wrecked the ship badly on the way back-makes internet drop out look not too bad!
In cloudy Sydney my wife and I managed a quick look through a sucker hole about 8:40. Great stuff, at least we saw it!
I brought the ED80 and a photo tripod to work, and had a good view with a few of the guys through a hole that lasted about 6 or 7 minutes. Still hoping for a few more little chances. Another guy also brought an EQ Newt, but hasn't set it up because of the rain. The ED80 on a tripod is ideal for a quick plonk and look.
good to hear all managing to get some sort of a look.Sorry to hear weather so awful down south.
Here is a couple of quick images of my son's set up,he is using his cam corder attached to mount,tracking the sun,ten second between frames.
The view through the 7 mm naglar is great,he held his phone up to it,and from I can see,so far-the images look better than what I'm getting with dslr attached to 103 ED Vixen.
In the run up to this event here in good old sunny Perth we've had days upon days of wonderful clear skies and sunshine, while the rest of the country has been clouded over.
Now, on the day, while everyone else appears to be have at least a glimpse, - we are totally clouded over and raining.
Getting brief but reasonably regular break in the cloud here on the Central Coast - managed to catch a short view at 8.17 at the commencement of ingress - then frustratingly nothing until 10.55 - have got other brief windows at 11.31 and 12.22 so managed to get some nice shots (of projected images). The windows of opportunity only last about 5 minutes but it's proving enough.
We had broken cloud for a few hours in the Latrtobe Valley, enough to get some good Ha views. I also attached a dslr camera behind a scope for the first time (megrez 88) and got some decent snapshots in white light.
All four seasons in one day here in the north of Sydney but spent considerable
time observing it through a C8 from Carlingford between breaks in the cloud
and even the occasional sprinkle of rain.
Also easy to spot naked eye through the IceInSpace eclipse glasses once clear of the
clouds.
We had broken cloud for a few hours in the Latrtobe Valley, enough to get some good Ha views. I also attached a dslr camera behind a scope for the first time (megrez 88) and got some decent snapshots in white light.
looks good!,good to share the view with other people-phone is starting to ring-people turning up from town,and enjoying the view-and they getting some snap shots holding eye phones up to eye piece.
Will post some more images soon.Son's data collection seems to be going well.I thought Venus would be further across the sun by now.Wait for 2.37 pm when a qantas 747 flies over the Blackbutt range.
Pretty clear here for the most part, there is some cloud in & out ,
Showed about 30+ thru the PST at woodend, had an appt at local primary but it was cloudy around 11, cleared at 12:20, hot thru about 60 or more kids I reckon, one little kid lined up 5 times
Cloudy here again now & the wind is freezing, hopefully I'll get some shots when it starts it's departure
Had a great run til about 10am using Lunt ha filter on ed80. About 9.30 saw a very bright strip open up on solar disc to south of Venus for about 5 min. Did anyone else notice this? Last time I saw one of these it was a CME. Would be pretty stoked to have seen transit & CME in one go. Patchy cloud now. It it's been a great day. Hope to see final contacts.
Just got back from a local school, had kids lined up behind the scope and we managed to get everyone a glimpse of the transit before the clouds cut us off at 2:05.
Some great questions from the kids (year 5 & 6) and an incredible amount of interest.
The ice in space glasses got a thrashing as well.
Had frequent but short gaps in the clouds where I am. Missed first contact then got a couple of minutes that ended just before second contact. Had some decent cloud gaps around maximum then complete cloud and rain for third and fourth contacts. But am delighted to see as much as I did when I didn't expect to see anything. What an awesome spectacle. And even a snapshot to remember it by (posted in the solar system forum).
