In my first science live blogging/tweeting/instagramming event I’m attempting to cover today’s transit of Venus.
As I get photos I will be adding them here, plus you can follow my tweets. For a slightly more exciting version, I’ve also embedded a video from a live feed from the Exploratorium, but you need Flash to see it.
Waiting for the transit.
Venus is fully inside the sun, that little black dot up the top. According to my phone it occurred at 8:03am, which sounds right.
Venus moving through the sun, approximately 9am.
Approximately 10am, the wind is making this very difficult.
Actually 10:55, I'm getting quicker at doing this. Plus less wind.
Think how seldom we get to see shapes in the sky – apart from the sun and moon most things are points of light. But this is definitely a spot.
12pm, plus if you look carefully to the right of Venus you can see a triangle of 4 sunspots.
1pm. Moving back out to the edge of the sun.
3rd contact, Venus is leaving.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I just went and saw this here at work, they have a telescope set up
So do I, but I have to keep moving it manually and rescuing it from the wind! Great fun now everything is done, how inconsiderate of Venus to contact just at the busiest time of the day.
Wow that’s pretty awesome Deb! I’m very impressed. Now I wish I had a telescope!
We tried with a pinhole camera but too blurry to see the little spot. Binoculars work though. I’m having a ball seeing it for real
Fantastic shots and what a great practical astronomy lesson! Can’t believe I knew nothing about this until I saw twitter and blogs this morning :/
Thanks, I really wish I had a class at the moment, I could build so much around this! Will have to look out for more once in a lifetime events
I am from holland .You can not see it here today because of the rain ……so we are very thankfull for this site .ilona
I’m glad you got to join in a little with me. It was an amazing experience.
Oh I am so jealous. I wish I had a clear sky to get this view.
Tamara´s latest amazing offering ..Wordless Wednesday 6 June
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