Online Transit Observing info

Stuff that I'm sure we all know, but in case you want some URLs you can throw at someone... mike

Webcasts of the Transit of Venus:

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/article_1258_1.asp#WEB

http://www.xs4all.nl/~carlkop/venus/transit.html

Where you can see the Transit of Venus:

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/planets/article_1021_1.asp

Your Guide to the Transit of Venus

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/article_1258_1.asp

There are many ways to dim the sun's light that may appear to be safe but *still* let through dangerous amounts of infrared and ultraviolet radiation that can cause severe, permanent eye damage.

Unless you are properly using filters specifically manufactured for solar observing, you are putting your eyesight at great risk. If you don't have such equipment, see the web site below and use the "Projection" method. That is safe if done carefully.

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/sun/article_1260_2.asp

"...Filters that are not safe, though sometimes recommended in error, include smoked glass, stacked sunglasses, crossed polarizing filters, neutral-density camera filters, metallized candy wrappers, and compact discs. While these may greatly dim the Sun’s glare, invisible radiation may get through and damage your eyes. And don’t use a camera with a telephoto lens, even if the lens has photographic filters on it that appear to darken the Sun. "


Safe solar observing:

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/sun/article_1260_1.asp

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/sun/article_94_1.asp

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/sun/article_101_1.asp

Eye Safety And Solar Eclipses:

http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eclipse/990811/text/eye-safety.html

2004 and 2012 Transits of Venus;

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/transit/venus0412.html

Other info on the Transit of Venus:

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/2004/index_vthome.htm

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/transit04.html

http://www.exploratorium.edu/venus/ (live webcast here)

local predictions can be found at:

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/transit/TV2004.html