Mercury Transit 9th May 2016

[JB80]

Same here Gina.

[Uranium235]

I spent yesterday afternoon making a baader solarfilm filter for my 10x50's..... works quite well! Just given it a test drive and it can make out a sunspot, the only downside is there being a bit of CA on the edges of the sun - which is to be expected since theyre quite an old pair of Prinz 10x50's.

[Mark at Beaufort]

Checking the weather forecasts for tomorrow in Hereford its not looking good. I think I will be driving North possibly into North Staffordshire. I am hopefully taking my 4" APO with Herschel Wedge, Continuum filter and binoviewers and on the other side of my SkyTee 2 will be my PST. I will also take my Canon 50D with a 1.5X barlow and Continuum filter to attempt a few photos.

[Seanie1]

Weather forecast for south of England really not looking good for tomorrow. Cloud cover from early morning onward. From about Birmingham northwards looks OK.

[ianaiken]

Forecast suggests clear all day North East England. Let's hope so, no doubt I'll have a load of fret to deal (not that there is any dealing with it) with being close to the sea. It's unusual usually it's the South that's clear and up here cloudy and raining!

Hope it clears for all even if that's just producing some gaps.

[mjpfc]

I have taken the day off, but according to the forecast, after a week of reasonable skies so has the sun.

Cloudy for the south up to the 1st contact time, then rain through the event1  Nice........

I had a chance to go to Scotland with work and declined it to watch from the Island. What a mistaka to make-a

I will be out there for 7+ probably full to dangerous levels of blood-pressure tablets by the end.

Good luck all,   Mick IOW

[Owmuchonomy]

For once, looking very good here if a tad windy.  Get those WL filters strapped on tight folks.

[JamesF]

5 hours ago, Gina said:

Weather forecast for here is cloudy all day

Yes, I've just been looking myself.  Most depressing

James

[Gina]

Actually, it's worse than cloudy - heavy rain   Negligible chance of a break in the clouds then!

[JamesF]

Just now, Gina said:

Actually, it's worse than cloudy - heavy rain   Negligible chance of a break in the clouds then!

Yes, it appears to get worse as the day goes on here.  No chance of hanging about for a while early on either as there's a load of school stuff going on.

James

[knobby]

well lets hope the weather men are wrong ... they quite often are !

[bish]

8 hours ago, Gina said:

Weather forecast for here is cloudy all day

When I read about the transit I thought that it goes on for so long we are bound to get a view at some point. I should know better really. Forecast here not conclusive.

[Gina]

Maybe you'll be lucky then

[John]

Our society public viewing event in Bristol has just been cancelled

My car is all loaded up with gear so I might stick some fuel in the tank and try and find somewhere clear and rain-free.

Rather galling as it's about the warmest day of the year here today with loads of sunshine

[Stub Mandrel]

I have to make a dark box for the laptop.

I use the DSLR with my workshop coat over my head, but my attempt to see my laptop in full sunlight  for video was farcial.

[Seraph_69]

Hi,

Sorry if anyone has already asked a similar question elsewhere, but this transit will be my first (OK, second) time using a solar filter (I got a baader one from astrozap).

I did my research, and ensured I got one which is to be used for visual (it's this one: https://www.astrozap.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=35).

But my question is:

After testing out the filter for the first time yesterday morning (caught a nice sunspot or two), I went to change eyepieces. When looking down the scope, with the eyepiece removed, I noticed around 20 or so tiny little pinholes in the filter - is this normal upon first use?! The instructions say to cover them with a black marker?

I ensured i hardly tightened the nylon thumbscrews at all (it fits like a glove and would take a small tornado to blow off) as I didn't want to over-stretch and damage the material.

I must have been out in the morning sun for around 1-1/2 hours in total, the whole time tracking the sun with my 8'' Newtonian.

 

Was I doing something wrong? Should I not try to observe for so long? Should this many pinholes appear on 1st use with filter!?!

 

I can confirm I still have both my eyes, and it didn't seem to affect anything, however, I am a little wary about using it again tomorrow if I am doing something wrong.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

(p.s. apologies if I was not supposed to add hyperlinks - just tell me and I will remove them).

Edited May 8, 2016 by Seraph_69

[Piero]

Apparently rain here too tomorrow. 

Swimming goggles are also recommended for the event..! 

[Starlight 1]

Looking clear here on Monday so I may have a little look , but its saying its 24c  and I am going to look like I just come out of a cooking pot .

[bish]

Sun burn mowing the lawn today - rain now forecast tomorrow.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Forecast here very good. Hope you all get lucky!

[Pig]

North of Birmingham is looking good according to forecast below and I was wondering if anyone can confirm this, my car is loaded up and ready. I am also prepared to meet up if anybody wants to, or even collect anyone from around the Northants area for a joint venture.

http://www.forecast.co.uk/cloud/

[JB80]

Well....

[cotterless45]

Oh flip,

[Pig]

Anyone In Peterborough ? it shows sun until 4pm ish......

[cotterless45]

Abandon ship !

http://clearoutside.com/forecast/52.77/-1.55