Comments | dherblay: Eclipseblogging, pt. 2

dherblay

Eclipseblogging, pt. 2

May 19, 2004 20:18

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eclipse, england, rahael, astrophotography, eclipse 1999

Comments 10

granpa_pete May 19 2004, 23:52:35 UTC

Maybe try #14 welder's glass duct taped onto a pair of binoculars? Filter the objective and not the eyepiece, of course. With 7x magnification I can see larger sunspots, so it might be enough to see Venus.

dherblay May 19 2004, 23:55:35 UTC

I've got sheets of mylar from eclipse viewing that work as well. The question is more what do I want to take with me to England (and how much my girlfriend will be thrilled that I'm paying attention to the transit rather than her). I might take my toy Tasco refractor -- it will do the job without taking up a lot of luggage, and is a little less bulky than even my binoculars.

granpa_pete May 20 2004, 00:26:26 UTC

Oh, sorry, I'm used to different equipment.
When I hear telescope I think "6 inch f/8 dobsonian",
when I hear binoculars I think "7x35" or "8x21",
and when I hear girlfriend I think "appreciative of rare, meaningful scientific events and not excessively needy".

dherblay May 20 2004, 00:30:27 UTC

My Meade is only 5-inch, but it's on an equatorial. I've tried lugging it overseas before and don't particulary want to repeat the experience.

Thread 5

rebekahroxanna May 20 2004, 05:21:35 UTC

The picture isn't too bad. I wish it were wholly on the film though. Is the venus transit a big deal? Should I put it on my calendar? And remind me when the total solar eclipse after 2005 is. I definitely want to put it on my calendar.

dherblay May 20 2004, 11:28:51 UTC

The Venus transit is more rare than spectacular.

The next major total eclipse is March 29, 2006. 4:07 of totality (at the Libya-Chad border, which I don't think we can get to).

rebekahroxanna May 20 2004, 15:49:01 UTC

Actually I think it is possible to go to Libya now, or it was a few months ago. When is the Iwo Jima one (or the Yangtze River one) 4:07 is a lot ot totality. It also sounds Easter-ish--a really bad time for me to take off, unless I can persuade folks that it's the Rapture, and my ticket says I'm leaving from there.

what's your email address? beastlydead May 21 2004, 16:56:58 UTC

Andrew, I wanted to write you and this is the only way I know how to get hold of you. I'm sorry to hear you're not gonna make the alt-reunion. Send me your email address, please. Ben

Re: what's your email address? beastlydead May 21 2004, 16:58:04 UTC

It occurs to me I ought to tell you how. benjaminstrong@earthlink.net