What to look for during Tuesday's rare transit of Venus

MSNBC ^ | June 3, 2012 | Joe Rao

[C19fan]

The last chance most of us will ever have to see the planet Venus pass in front of the sun is coming up this Tuesday. On that day, more than half the world will get to see an exceedingly rare event: a transit of Venus crossing the face of the sun at inferior conjunction. A transit of Venus is among the rarest of astronomical events, rarer even than the return of Halley's Comet every 76 years. Only six transits of Venus are known to have been observed by humans before: in 1639, 1761, 1769, 1874, 1882 and most recently in 2004.

[C19fan]

Cool astronomical event of Venus crossing in front of the sun will occur in North America tomorrow Tuesday at sunset. I wonder if I can take a direct photo with my camera or will the sun fry the lens?

[Ingtar]

I guess that is on the other side of the storm clouds...

[knarf]

Would the dark lens of a welder’s hood be safe enough .. just to locate the sun in the lens of the camera?

[NativeSon]

I have solar binoculars, I bet I can rig it up to a camera

[Lou Budvis]

Go to a camera store today and ask about a neutral density filter.

[Jack Hydrazine]

You can watch it here.
http://events.slooh.com/

If any of you are in Los Angeles you can go to the Griffith Observatory to see it.
http://www.griffithobs.org/exhibits/special/Special_Event_Transit_of_Venus.html

[C19fan]

Thanks!

[lefty-lie-spy]

I e got dibs on Tokyo viewing at 7:10am Wednesday morning. It will probably be cloudy, but I’ll be able to see it on the Web. I tried to find some #14 welding goggles, but no luck at the home store I went to. The event is too small to be impressive without a good telescope, but at least I’ll know that is happening in my morning sunshine with myself below.

[KarlInOhio]

Go to a camera store today and ask about a neutral density filter.

Danger Will Robinson. Make sure that you get a specific solar filter. Neutral density is only defined over the visual spectrum so can let through IR and UV. Also, I couldn't find anything over 4.0, and I've always seen 5.0 OD is the minimum for direct observation of the sun and probably more if you are looking through any lens. (remember, always filter the input of the camera/telescope/binoculars not the output)

Now where have I hidden my welding goggles. I don't want to have to buy another pair today.

[pallis]

A welder’s hood yes, but not goggles for the torch. Try to use a number 10 lens.

[CSM]

As rare is that is, I find it very strange that the last time was i n2004. Does anyone know why it is happening again so soon?

[fish hawk]

To all. You don’t need to buy anything expensive and exotic to see this. Go to a store where you can buy the square dark lenses that fit into a welder’s helmet. Works great for eclipses and things like this. I watched the recent eclipse with mine with no problems.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Why bother?

Just go online and watch the video from the SOHO satellite.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Go to a store where you can buy the square dark lenses that fit into a welder’s helmet.

This will allow you to view the Sun with no problems but seeing Venus traverse the face will be like trying to view a grain of sand traversing the face of a light bulb at 20 feet.

[Vinnie]

Just got back from the welding supply store.
Bought helmet glass densities #5, 10, 12. They were $1.75 ea. for 2½x4”.

My son took a pic during the last transit and it turned out great.

He said a piece of dense mylar should work for camera purposes, NOT the naked eye.

[Vinnie]

My son took this pic 2004 transit. 1.5 mp camera held up to the eyepiece of a 60mm telescope. Filtered of course.

[varyouga]

More like a small fly very slowly passing in front of a bulb.

These transits are definitely visible to a good naked eye. Just use some very dark shades.

[Ratman83]

I heard that it has to be a #14 shade, anything wlse would allow damage to the eye.