Venus passing the sun

[Cathrine Stephansen]

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I guess

Anyway, I got up really early this morning to watch Venus passing the sun. Some have been up all night, and it must have been cool above the polar circle where you can watch it all night

There was no point for me getting up that early as I live in the south, and there is a hill and some trees where the sun climbs up every morning now. I have to brag about my timing, just got up the E5, the 50-200mm on a tripod and focused manually on eternity (OK, then. Infinity ) and watched the live view screen. I didn't have those special glasses, so I couldn't watch directly, and the screen was too bright to see anything.

Thankfully, the clouds veiled the sun enough. These were the results at:

200mm (cropped) f/22, 1/8000 s, ISO 100



And up close:




And up close:




And up close:




And up close:

[Phill D]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Wow Catherine that's amaizing. The transit itself is impressive enough but with those clouds as well those shots are very special. Your early morning was well worth it. You should definitely sell these images. In the last shot there are two smaller dots more central over the sun are they real? I didn't think that Venus had any moons.

[LMGruchy]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Brilliant images.

I forgot to get out of bed.

[Roberta]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Fantastic, well worth the getting up for and as said the sky is stunning

[Phill D]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Actually looking at some of the shots on the BBC website it looks like you may have got a couple of sun spots too in that last shot

[Cathrine Stephansen]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Thanks for the comments, I suppose I should send the link to the Astronomy Institute and ask what they are. Sun spots are probably the most likely?

Or UFOs

[Wee man]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Very well done got up looked out nothing but clouds went back to bed! Yes I think you have sun spots in that shot.

[gregles]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Fantastic images Catherine

Thanks for sharing

Greg

[Ian]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Well done, Cathrine - you have provided a great example of the saying that you need to be where the light is to get the great shot!

Ian

[blaggard]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Good job, my local Astronomical Society really struggled with this today and a few have serious Sun observation equipment. . .

[Graptolite]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Got up at 5.30, looked out window, thick cloud, back to bed. Asleep again by 5.31-ish.
At least I tried.

[bredman]

Re: Venus passing the sun

They are simply amazing.

[snaarman]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Got up at 5.30, looked out window, thick cloud, back to bed. Asleep again by 5.31-ish.
At least I tried.

Yep. Exactly the same actions here...

[Greytop]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Well done Cathrine, these are great shots and excellent record of this rare event.

[Wally]

Re: Venus passing the sun

Thanks for sharing. I got up 4.30am to set out with my e20 and 300mm lens to find grey skies and no hint of the sun. Typical of British weather... 12 hours later the sky is blue and the sun shines through. Guess I'll have to hang around for another 105 years or so living in hope next time will be better.