Venus Transit Observations

Dave, those pics didn't show up - I don't think you can link directly to a picture off a geocities site, you have to go through the main page their ads show up.

Anyhow, I had a look at your pics, great given the weather conditions. I would like to think I saw the black drop effect but I wouldn't swear by it. Even in your shot it kinda looks like the edge of the Sun is being sucked in very slightly.

Dave we only saw 2nd contact but even though seeing was not great (clouds) I think we would of noticed the drop but didn't . For me i put it down to inexperience

Hi John/Conor,
I see what your saying, I just thought that it'd be much more prominent then whats in the picture..

BTW, the picture link worked for me, but I did put the address in underneath it just in case, good thing I did.
Here it is from the eircom site, which I'll use from now on.


homepage.eircom.net/%7Esac/graphics/inner/vt1203dl.jpg

Heres an interesting piece in sky and telescope on the black drop effect.
skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1277_1.asp

So maybe this black drop effect is only visible IF the gap between the Suns limb and Venus is less then then the resolution of the scope+eyepiece/webcam, under the given seeing, would not the 2 objects merge ??
Here is a link to the Trace images,
vestige.lmsal.com/TRACE/transits/venus_2004/

Given that scopes in the 19th and 18th century were of relitively small aperture and in some cases less then perfect quality, that this might be the case ,, any thoughts??

Hi,

In case this isn't posted somewhere else here, a 30 minute show on RTE last Tuesdays Future Tense program is at www.rte.ie/radio1/evening/futuretense/

The first half of the program was recorded at Sandymount tower. And it's good to hear that there was such a good turnout, from amateurs, the public, and the professionals like Dr. Tom Ray.

Second half from the Phoenix Park...

Cheers,
~Al

Sicily, Italy:- spoke with Al White and he said it was cloudy yesterday but lovely clear spells for the transit -- halo seen around Venus (sunlight filtering through its atmosphere).

Its good to see the images posted online now confirming the `halo`. Although I could see it clearly I wasnt sure if my eye was being tricked by an optical illusion or not! It was clearer after 3rd contact.

Cheers,
~Al