Sunspots - 16th May

Shane,
Good move on the full aperture filter, definitely the way to go,
Besides, you can always step it down with cardboard later if you feel it improves the image.

Its going to be clear again this evening, I'll try and get my last view of Venus or is it too late ??

I think it's too late Dave. I caught a glimpse of it last Tuesday night and I was surprised at how low it had become, as well as how quickly it had fallen. I suspect the next time you see Venus will be when it's shadow crawls across the sun! :lol: I have looked since then, but to no avail. It has been a great apparition though. Did anyone get to see it with the naked eye in daylight? I was surprised how easy it was to see it, and then once seen, to find it again on other days.

Shane,
I managed to see Venus a number of times in daytime with the naked eye, well, that depends on what you call daytime.
The sky was still very blue and the Sun was on the horison.
If you mean, when the Sun was above the horison, I'd have to say no, but the goto found it and it was easily visible in the finder.

What a great apparition of Venus we've had, and to top it off with a transit across the Sun, its like the cherry on the cake.

Miraculously, I did manage to see Venus on Tuesday evening, 6.5 days before the transit and only 8.5 degrees away form the Sun. As you can imagine, I was VERY carefull and went to extremes to make sure it was safe.
I took a webcam image of it which I'll post here as soon as its ready.
The weather is looking up for Tuesaday, another miricle

Dave,

I have just put that image of yours of Venus (and Jupiter) on the Shannonside Site in the inner planets Gallery. Incredible thin cresent and very detailed image of Jupiter as well.

Michael Scully KAC/SAC

Thanks Michael,
The phase (according to SNP) is only 1.5 degrees,
Lets hope we see it at 0 degrees on Tuesday

homepage.eircom.net/%7Esac/graphics/inner/venus2.jpg