Mercury transit of 2019

[Guest]

Many people will most likely be at work during the timing of this event. It would be differcult for them to take telescope, mount, filters etc. So I was thinking about binoculars. I understand that you can get white light solar filter pairs for binoculars. Would you see Mercury in 10 x 50 or 8 x 40 binoculars? 

[Stu]

46 minutes ago, Grumpy Martian said:

Would you see Mercury in 10 x 50 or 8 x 40 binoculars? 

Yes, I saw it in a pair of Coronado 10x25 Solar binoculars quite some years ago. It is small but very distinctive, a sharp black silhouette.

[Buzzard75]

Should be able to see it. As Stu said, it would just be an extremely small black dot. We're fortunate here in the US that it happens to fall on a major holiday, Veteran's Day. Our club is actually doing an event in association with the North Carolina State Park Service at one of the nearby historical forts, where they'll be having other activities throughout the day. It's going to be a busy morning for us.

Edited October 17, 2019 by Buzzard75

[Limerick John]

I'm bringing a scope and filter to work and setting up after lunchime in the carpark for an hour or so for anyone who wants a quick peek at the event. Loads of interest in it with my colleagues and I get to sneak off work for an hour 😀

[RT65CB-SWL]

I am on a rest day, but Clear Outside app, (and other weather apps), visibilty does does not look good...

...either or from my location.

[The Admiral]

I caught the last Mercury transit, but only just as first contact was through plentiful thin cloud, and the clouds were a perpetual problem. Did get some images though. This time, with the Sun being much lower, I'll only get the chance of no more than an hour after it starts, and then the weather will have to cooperate. The forecast looks decidedly iffy. Looks like being cold and windy too.

Ian

[Captain Scarlet]

I’ve got some baader solar film being delivered Sunday, I’ll make a makeshift pair of filters for my 15x56s and take them to work, and sneak out during the morning, weather permitting, hopefully with a colleague or two...

[wookie1965]

Not looking good for me after buying Baader film and making a solar filter.

[mikeDnight]

He who dares wins, and/or goes to the pub to discuss scientific results. 🍺

[johninderby]

Looking more like I will have to resort to this to see the transit.🤔

https://www.timeanddate.com/live/

 

Or this 😁😁😁

Edited November 10, 2019 by johninderby

[fireballxl5]

To get you in the mood, here's a shot of the Venus transit I got back in 2004😁

[johninderby]

Slight improvement in the forecast. 

[The Admiral]

I got lucky! The forecast for morning rain didn't materialize, in fact there were relatively few clouds around early on. I managed to get the first half hour or so of the transit before seriously cloudy skies arrived, and the initial contacts were clouded out. It's now out of visibility for me as it's so low in the sky. Still, I've seen it; I shalln't be around for the next one!

Ian