Author: Michael Packer

 SJAA member Dan Wright with his great eyepiece projection system is interviewed on Venus Transit.

Transit of Venus Over Course of the Day!
Here’s a nice YouTube video from Malika Carter’s Sunspotter

Author: Michael Packer

Author: Michael Packer

Observe The Sun Safely – Never look at the Sun without a proper filter!
Solar Programs are held 1st Sunday of every Month 2:00-4:00 PM at Houge Park  weather permitting

San Jose CA: Clouds did not prove to be a problem today for this rare event to see Venus cross the Sun. Lots of Folks at Houge Park.

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Lee at Scope
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Front guide-Mirror Scope
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Jim’s Eyepiece Projection Box
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 Wicked View through Jim’s Box
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Hand-made Solar Card
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Another form of Eyepiece Projection
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Mother, Daughter – or is that Daughter, Mother
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SJAA’s 100mm H-Alpha Scope
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Venus Transit – “The Wagner Effect”

1 comment:

  MSwartz-AstronomyJune 7, 2012 at 2:19 PM

Wow, that was a great day. I read up on the history of the watching of the transit of Venus by scientists and astronomers in the past. I not only enjoyed the spectical of seeing it but felt a special sense of history as I thought of those who had watched and measured it so carefully during transits past. And wow, what they would think if they could see what we can do today! Some of the pictures, especially the ones from satellite, and the time lapse photos that people are putting together are just amazing /p>

It was a fun day at Houge Park and I’m glad I was able to be there for the end of it. There was an impressive row of equipment and a very enthusiastic and appreciative crowd. The weather was nice… it was just perfect.

Michael Swartz

Author: Michael Packer

Author: Michael Packer

Observe The Sun Safely – Never look at the Sun without a proper filter!
Solar Programs are held 1st Sunday of every Month 2:00-4:00 PM at Houge Park   weather permitting

With at least 7 Sunspot groups the SP number was well over 100 today. Take a look at this great photo by SJAA member Robert Duvall and note the sunspot detail at 3:30 O’clock at the edge of the solar disk.

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Today’s prominences (plasma flares) were all around the solar disk and changing shape rapidly over just a couple minutes. At 2 O’clock on the solar disk was the largest plasma stream extending perhaps 7 Earth diameters out from the photosphere. From 5 to 7 O’clock were a myriad of prominences exhibiting different structure from detached plumes, spicules to branching trees. Not many prominences were seen projected on the solar disc (compared to last month’s report or during the annular eclipse). This may have something to do with the high sunspot count and distribution. At any rate several sunspots were exquisite showing fine penumbra detail as seen in Teruo’s (SJAA member and leader) SC scope. Solar faculae were evident among many of these sunspot groups.

Speaking of the annular eclipse, here is a great time lapse compilation by SJAA member Malika using eyepiece projection. She was near center line in Navada.

YouTube Video

I took this image at center line near Mt. Lassen:

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**More pics of eclipse and SJAA’ers at Lassen center line here **

Not all of us SJAA’ers or the public made it to center line. Indeed the crowd at Houge Park was the largest ever seen (perhaps 600 plus folks over the course of this “lunar transit”.

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Eclipse Day at Houge Park

VENUS TRANSIT: BE SURE TO VISIT HOUGE PARK TUESDAY 2:30 to SUNSET