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Handy Pinhole Camera to observe the transit of Venus
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Lech Mankiewicz
Paweł Rudawy
Astronomical Institute, University of Wroclaw, Poland
to observe the transit of Venus, eclipses and other phenomena
occurring on the Sun
The sun, our nearest star,
occasionally allows us to observe spectacular astronomical phenomena: eclipses,
appearances of large sunspots and solar flair fields, or passing of the inner
planets (Venus and Mercury) between the Sun and Earth. In the morning of June
6, 2012 we will be able to observe the passage of Venus against the solar disk.
Transits of Venus are quite rare (we will have to wait for the next one until
2117) so it is not surprising that the forthcoming event is of great interest.
Unfortunately, observations of the Sun are neither easy nor
safe. The Sun must not be viewed with the naked eye, and under no circumstances
can you look at it through binoculars or a telescope without a proper filter
unless you want to go instantly and permanently blind!
Some shops offer special eclipse glasses, however, due to the minimal diameter of the visible Venus (less than 1 ") they are not very useful for observing planet transits. Therefore, for those who would like to observe the transit of Venus with their own observation instrument - we prepared a description of a simple pinhole camera (ie from Lat. Camera Obscura) for the observations of various phenomena occurring on the Sun.
| Pinhole Camera to observe the transit of Venus |
Pinhole camera to observe the transit of Venus