How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
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How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
I found this short video which describes a pinhole camera to observe an eclipse safely. This design also should work for Monday's transit of Mercury across the face of the sun. Should work and it means that you don't have to run out and buy a Lunt or Coronado to observe it. Enjoy!
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
Thanks Michael. Last solar eclipse I could see it on my patio floor through a hole in my laminate roof. Will try out the box. Wonder if the dot will be big enough to see?
ES AR 102 102mm, f/6.5, ES 254mm f/5 DOB, Obie 10x50, GSO SV 30mm, ES 68° 20mm, ES 82° 14mm, 11mm, 8.8 mm, 6.8mm, 4.7mm. Twilight 1 mount.
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
That's nice and all, but if you have a lunt or a solar filter then lend someone a view of this rare event!!, welding lense are dirt cheap too
scopes :gso/bintel f4 12"truss tube, bresser messier ar127s /skywatcher 10'' dob,meade 12'' f10 lx200 sct
cameras : asi 1600mm-c/asi1600mm-c,asi120mc,prostar lp guidecam, nikkon d60, sony a7,asi 290 mm
mounts : eq6 pro/eq8/mesu 200 v2
filters : 2'' astronomik lp/badder lrgb h-a,sII,oIII,h-b,Baader Solar Continuum, chroma 3nm ha,sii,oiii,nii,rgb,lowglow,uv/ir,Thousand Oaks Solar Filter,1.25'' #47 violet,pro planet 742 ir,pro planet 807 ir,pro planet 642 bp ir.
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cameras : asi 1600mm-c/asi1600mm-c,asi120mc,prostar lp guidecam, nikkon d60, sony a7,asi 290 mm
mounts : eq6 pro/eq8/mesu 200 v2
filters : 2'' astronomik lp/badder lrgb h-a,sII,oIII,h-b,Baader Solar Continuum, chroma 3nm ha,sii,oiii,nii,rgb,lowglow,uv/ir,Thousand Oaks Solar Filter,1.25'' #47 violet,pro planet 742 ir,pro planet 807 ir,pro planet 642 bp ir.
extras : skywatcher f4 aplanatic cc, Baader MPCC MKIII Coma Corrector,Orion Field Flattener,zwo 1.25''adc.starlight maxi 2" 9x filter wheel,tele vue 2x barlow .
- Lady Fraktor
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
Welding glass of #14 or #15 will work but do not use anything lighter.
** Welding glass is not a good substitute for extended solar viewing.**
** Welding glass is not a good substitute for extended solar viewing.**
Gabrielle
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
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The only culture I have is from yogurt
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
You have some control over that. To magnify, increase the distance from the pinhole and shade to the projection screen. Use a larger box.Michael131313 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2019 6:06 pm Thanks Michael. Last solar eclipse I could see it on my patio floor through a hole in my laminate roof. Will try out the box. Wonder if the dot will be big enough to see?
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
Very good n_FA. Thanks.
ES AR 102 102mm, f/6.5, ES 254mm f/5 DOB, Obie 10x50, GSO SV 30mm, ES 68° 20mm, ES 82° 14mm, 11mm, 8.8 mm, 6.8mm, 4.7mm. Twilight 1 mount.
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
I second that in big way. I took a full-time welding course years ago, and I remember the teacher stressing that point. He said the Sun is a lot bigger and brighter than any weld arc you'll ever see, not to mention it puts out light waves that an arc doesn't.Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2019 7:29 pm Welding glass of #14 or #15 will work but do not use anything lighter.
** Welding glass is not a good substitute for extended solar viewing.**
He also said if you do, limit it to under half a minute of viewing.
I don't have a thing to worry about, though. My forecast calls for snow all day...
Best of luck everyone!
Mark
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"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4, AZ-EQ5 and SolarQuest mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.
Solar:
H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
The only thing I use welding glass for is a light shield for my Telrad and that is more to not overheat the reticle in it.
Gabrielle
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1011110)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- Gfamily
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
I would be sceptical about that, as Mercury is small and diffraction will be significant if the pinhole is small, and blurring will be significant if it's largerMichael131313 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 09, 2019 6:06 pm Thanks Michael. Last solar eclipse I could see it on my patio floor through a hole in my laminate roof. Will try out the box. Wonder if the dot will be big enough to see?
Mercury is the small dot in the lower right quadrant
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www.midcheshireastro.co.uk for astro company
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
I'm also planning to use a bigger box to cast a larger image. I'm hopeful it works, but who knows?
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
According to Stellarium, Mercury will have an angular size of about 10" of arc - which is about 1/180th the size of the Sun.
I think (rough calculation) that if you make your box 2 metres long, the image of Mercury will be about 1/2 mm across, on a Sun image that's about 9cm wide.
On the other hand, there don't seem to be any Sunspots at the moment, so at least you should be confident that if you can see anything, it'll be Mercury.
Best of luck - let us know how you get on.
We're forecast broken cloud through the afternoon, so I may get the 8"
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Star Adventurer
AZ Gti mount
www.midcheshireastro.co.uk for astro company
Star Adventurer
AZ Gti mount
www.midcheshireastro.co.uk for astro company
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
Here's a link to a livestream of the transit starting tomorrow...you can watch it on your computer.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
I will be curious to learn if you were able to capture Mercury by projection. It seems so small.
I am also curious as to the telescope that Gfamily used for that picture? How much magnification was it?
We are predicted to have a cloudy morning and two inches of snow. I'm not going to take my telescope to work and try to catch it. I think I will take my Canon 80D with a 400 lens, a 1.4X teleconverter and a solar filter. That should give me a magnification of roughly 20X. I can set that up in my office and run out quickly if there is a break in the clouds. I don't know if that will be enough magnification for a capture, but it's worth a tree.
And if I miss it, hey, we're all astronomers here. That means we are accustomed to loading bunches of gear, driving long distances and lack of sleep all for the mere joy of watching clouds roll across the cold dark night sky.
I am also curious as to the telescope that Gfamily used for that picture? How much magnification was it?
We are predicted to have a cloudy morning and two inches of snow. I'm not going to take my telescope to work and try to catch it. I think I will take my Canon 80D with a 400 lens, a 1.4X teleconverter and a solar filter. That should give me a magnification of roughly 20X. I can set that up in my office and run out quickly if there is a break in the clouds. I don't know if that will be enough magnification for a capture, but it's worth a tree.
And if I miss it, hey, we're all astronomers here. That means we are accustomed to loading bunches of gear, driving long distances and lack of sleep all for the mere joy of watching clouds roll across the cold dark night sky.
Rob
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
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Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
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Re: How to Make a Pinhole Camera to Observe the Mercury Transit
As I recall it was my 8"
LS8 Meade SCT, SW 127 Mak, 72mm Lightwave Refractor
Star Adventurer
AZ Gti mount
www.midcheshireastro.co.uk for astro company
Star Adventurer
AZ Gti mount
www.midcheshireastro.co.uk for astro company
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