# The official SDMB Annular Eclipse AND Transit of Venus Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 3, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728 "2012-04-03T20:12:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/81 "2012-06-05T22:16:50Z")
[Here’s a list of times (in UTC) for various US cities.](http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/transit/venus/city12-2.html) Here is a list for [international cities.](http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/transit/venus/city12-1.html) Eastern Daylight Time is UTC-4, Central Daylight Time is UTC-5, Mountain Daylight Time is UTC-6, Pacific Daylight Time is UTC-7. ETA: You lucky freaks who don’t have DST and you weird furriners in other time zones can figure it out yourselves 😉 ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/82 "2012-06-05T22:20:31Z")
Ha! Caught it on camera. I’ll post pictures when I get home. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/83 "2012-06-05T22:25:55Z")
On [Astronomy Picture of the Day](http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/): there it is! Upper left. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/84 "2012-06-05T22:26:02Z")
> [@Yeticus\_Rex](#): > > There is a second page of this article (missed the link near the bottom to second page on my previous post) which goes quite in depth about acceptable and unacceptable solar filters. So wait, are they saying that you can look at the sun through a random cd? I’m confused. I’m trying to figure out what household materials would make acceptable veiwer things. I’m poking around my dad’s workshop, but I don’t know where everthing is and he’s out for the night. Need answer fast. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/85 "2012-06-05T22:28:05Z")
Live video of the transit with [Phil Plait the Bad Astronomer,](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/06/05/venus-transit-live/) for those who are interested in a live view and commentary from very excited nerds! ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/86 "2012-06-05T22:28:47Z")
I’m using two layers of mirrored mylar. It’s cutting my shutter speed so low I have to use a tripod. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/87 "2012-06-05T22:36:13Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Live video of the transit with [Phil Plait the Bad Astronomer,](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/06/05/venus-transit-live/) for those who are interested in a live view and commentary from very excited nerds! I’ll try that. Right now I’m enjoying a live show at > **[NASA EDGE](https://video.ibm.com/nasaedge)** > > NASA EDGE is an unscripted, non-traditional video podcast (vodcast) designed to highlight all things NASA in a unique and fun way. By using a combination of funny, offbeat and informative sketches, features and interviews, the NASA EDGE team creates... _ **!!!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/88 "2012-06-05T22:44:01Z")
The silence of awe, as I try to comprehend the size, the distance and the insouciant grace. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/89 "2012-06-05T22:53:17Z")
I totally just made a pinhole viewer from a Cheerios box. Too cloudy here, but if the sun pokes out, I’m ready!! ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/90 "2012-06-05T22:57:19Z")
My effort from Australia this morning: [![](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7083/7157934749_8eff039ae6.jpg) ](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7083/7157934749_8eff039ae6.jpg) Compact zoom camera, translucent window, just maxed shutter and aperture and voila. Edit: And the reason it was my compact was so if I melted something, I could live with it. Do at your own risk etc etc. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/91 "2012-06-05T22:57:37Z")
Right, so according to that list a non-transparent cd is okay to look through? I taped it to my glasses. Now I just have to find the sun. It’s cloudyish today. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/92 "2012-06-05T23:01:06Z")
I missed the edit window to say: \*\*\* MAGNETOSPHERENCE! \*\*\*\* … I’m now listening to commentary on [both](http://www.ustream.tv/nasaedge) [sites](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/06/05/venus-transit-live/). This is a problem because I can neither mute nor lower the volume on [“my” site](http://www.ustream.tv/nasaedge). - The above neologism was a spontaneous one by one of three commentators on “my” site. The other two folks laughed at him and then explained that it was a laugh of envy. They thought that it was a great term to come up with. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/93 "2012-06-05T23:06:01Z")
[Here’s](http://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/7157979793/in/photostream) one I just took from my Backyard. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/94 "2012-06-05T23:13:08Z")
Those clouds. They Killed Venus! (at least for me ☹ ) Those bastards! Well, at least there is the interconnected series of tubes for me… ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/95 "2012-06-05T23:13:48Z")
Ideal viewing conditions here in the Albuquerque area. I’m using the eclipse glasses I bought for the annular eclipse. Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/96 "2012-06-05T23:40:02Z")
There weren’t any dots on the sun when it finally came out. Not that I could see anyway. It’s too cloudy to do the pinhole thing. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/97 "2012-06-05T23:57:16Z")
Fabulous sky over Chicago tonight. Projected through the viewfinder on my telescope (with a cardboard shade) and saw Venus perfectly. Very very neat. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/98 "2012-06-06T00:11:53Z")
We got reasonably good views of 1st and 2nd contact from Sydney this morning, although intermittent cloud was spoiling the event. Naturally last night one of the strongest storms in years came through, and the after-effects are still lingering with cloud, rain and cold, cold weather. There were live feeds from other observatories (Brisbane, Lord Howe Island, Auckland, Hawaii) to supplement the local view, but we could still see pretty well through the various telescopes. I’ll pop back to the observatory this afternoon for 3rd and 4th contact (around 1430 - 1445). ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/99 "2012-06-06T00:14:24Z")
I got curious about the distances involved so I did a little research: Right now Venus is about 108,000,000 km (67,000,000 mi) from the Sun. Earth is about 150,000,000 km (93,000,000 mi) from the Sun. So Venus is considerably closer to us (about 42,000,000 km or 26,000,000 mi) than it is to the Sun. (All distances approximate) ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728/100 "2012-06-06T01:04:44Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Those clouds. They Killed Venus! (at least for me ☹ ) > > Those bastards! [Clouds pretty much did kill Venus](http://www.space.com/283-venus-alive-signs.html), or at least its atmosphere, which includes clouds, did. It may have had water and even life early in its history, but now it’s far too hot for liquid water. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-sdmb-annular-eclipse-and-transit-of-venus-thread/617728.md?page=6)