I haven’t had time to process all the images, but here is the best “ring of fire” image that I captured with my Lunt 60mm solar scope. Let me know what you think.
– Ex astris, scientia –
Tag Archives: Sun
Off to the Eclipse!
I’m leaving on a jet plane…well, actually in an RV for a remote spot in Utah on the center-line of the annular eclipse!!!! <Muppet flail> Yeah!!! </end Muppet flail>. I hope everything goes well and I will have some great pictures to share with you on my return. For those of you that have the chance to view the eclipse, please remember that this is NOT a total eclipse and that you will need to protect your eyes. Only 85% of the sun will be obscured by the Moon, leaving plenty of sunlight left to make you go blind. Take all precautions, especially with any children that may want to look up and see what is going on. I’ll be back on Tuesday!
– Ex astris, scientia –
The Sun – Safely
Well, I saw this article about making a Sun Gun (no, not the one envisioned by German scientists in WWII), but this one, and I just happened to see a Fry’s ad for a $129.00 Celestron 60mm goto telescope and I couldn’t resist. So, after a quick trip to the penny less than a dollar store only I manage to get all the parts for this:
She’s a beauty, ain’t she.
Using the 9mm eye piece that came with the scope I was able to actually see 6 sunspots!
Despite the wind that kept moving my planter….er…sun viewing device around I could clearly make out the sun and the sunspots. Although it is not very apparent in these shrunk down, web size pictures, the full blow images are great. Visually it is rather stunning. Next steps: I will reinforce the connection a little more, but I now have a safe, quick and easy way for children of all ages to view the sun safely!
Please remember to never look directly at the sun as it will make you go blind!
Venus transit here I come!
– Ex astris, scientia –
Transit of Venus
2004.06.08 Venus Transit, Celestron 8″ Catadioptric Telescope (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Another astronomical eye-fest is happening in June. The planet Venus and Earth will be alined in the right places so that we can see Venus transit the Sun. A transit occurs like an eclipse (see yesterdays post). Venus will be traveling across the surface of the Sun and it will be viewable to us here in the United States. For more information on how to safely view the transit I recommend you go here.
Warning!!! Never look directly at the Sun, it will blind you. Check out the resources at the link above for safe ways to view the transit.
– Ex astris, scientia –
