Transit of Mercury on May 9th

[Pete]

This may not be as rare or spectacular as the transits of Venus, but the timing is perfect for those of us on the US east coast. Health issues may interfere, but I'm hoping to slap a Baadar Mylar solar filter onto my guide scope and ether view or image this transit from the observatory.

Pete

[Bruce D]

Thanks for the heads-up Pete! I saw the transit of 1970 and was quite impressed. I didn't have a solar filter, but I had a bunch of 8x10 sheets of fully exposed film... I put my little 3" Tasco refractor in front of the window and stacked 6 sheets of film in front of the scope, and removed them 1 at a time until I could see an image. Probably not the brightest idea I've ever had, but it did the trick and I had a fine view. Nowadays I highly recommend using a real solar filter, my method had a few ways a disaster could have happened-

[Paul D]

Not to mention that several of us now own solar scopes which will make observing a piece of cake.

[DonB]

Yes, I to remember 1970's transit. I built a shadow box for my then 4 1/2" reflector. I imaged the transit by photographing the inside of the shadowbox that had the eyepiece projection onto a screen in the shadowbox. Big fun when I was 25. So I shall try again at age 70. I figure I'll use my Celestron 8 with a Thousand Oaks full amperage white light filter. I will then switch to a Daystar Hydrogen alpha filter on a 120mm f/5 refractor. I'll also try to get in some practice on old Sol before the event. Here's hoping for clear skies !!

Don

[Dark Helmet]

Thanks for the reminder Pete. A bunch of Arunah members plan to have a laid back non-public event at the Hill. I plan on using my Takahashi Sky 90 and filter. plus the historic Gaertner Refractor (witnessed its first Mercury Transit in 1907!) if I can find the solar filter.

Now we hope the weather holds....

Matt

[Paul D]

OMG!!!!! Matt P lives!!!!!

[Dark Helmet]

I'm still alive Paul and no Bill I have not bought anything in the last three months

Anyone is welcome to join us if you want to motor out to western mass for the transit.

[Dark Helmet]

Unfortunately the predicted weather pattern in early May looks wetter.

[Paul D]

Good to hear from you Matt. May 9th is a Monday, it will rain for sure because its a day off from work.

[Apollo XX]

http://cosmicpursuits.com/931/guide-tra ... ay-9-2016/