Transit of Venus sky

The 2012 transit is over - I'm sure there are many fine images and movies of it.  I imagine Capt Cook would be astonished at the modern technology we applied to this event compared to his trip to Tahiti.  But one thing hasn't changed: there's still weather to contend with.  Here in the Schenectady area, we had solid overcast skies all day, with just a bit of a break around 5:00 PM.  This is what that break looked like.  Fortunately, I had two nice openings just as it began and just as the sun was about to sink below the horizon.

A group of photobloggers post a photo of their skies each Friday - it's called Skywatch Friday. Click the link to see photos from round the world.

 

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/500
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	800
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

This post is on auto-pilot.

Recycle

This man understands the value of recycling!  He's carrying a large bag of cans and plastic bottles.  On his bicycle.  He's a cycling recycler!

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/500
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	800
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

This post is on auto-pilot.

Transit of Venus 2012

By now, most everyone's heard about the 2012 transit of Venus.  Like most astronomical events, I got clouded out for a large piece. Then of course, the sun set before it was even a third over.  But still, it was fun to watch with my little one.  I have an old telescope called an Edmund Astroscan, and I set it up so that the eyepiece pointed sideways, then focussed the image on a piece of white paper I taped to a bit of cardboard.  The technique is called eyepiece projection, and it's an easy way to let a group of people see the Sun safely.  Venus is the round dot at the upper left side.  Other blotches are sunspots.

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/640
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	125
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

This was the very beginning; I saw a break in the clouds and grabbed the telescope and got a shot off as quickly as I could.

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	39.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 78.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/2000
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

The setup looks like this.  The telescope is the tube sticking out of the red bag.  I used the lens case to hold up the cardboard and the eyepiece is pointing at that.  This way, it's virtually impossible for someone to accidentally peek into the eyepiece and get hurt.

I'm off at a ham radio contest - post is on auto-pilot.

Slate roof

This is a slate roof.  The thumbnail doesn't do it justice - click to enlarge it and see the patterns the roofers put in that roof.  he sun was just right for me to get this.  It's the roof of the First United Methodist Church, whose front is on State Street; this is the back.  Amazing work.

I'll be away for a week or so; I hope to set up some posts on auto-pilot, but it's very hectic.  Getting ready for the annual ARRL VHF June ham radio contest...

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/1600
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Chicory

I took this on the way to the Sunday Greenmarket.  It's chicory.  Around here, it's considered a weed; tough, hard to kill and grows in places other plants don't.  Like the little crack between the asphalt parking lot and the concrete sidewalk.  What caught my eye wasn't that it was there - it's so common it;s easy to overlook.  No, what caught my eye is that it's flowering now - in June.  That's very early; maybe as much as a month early. This particular plant hasn't many flowers, but it's doing quite well for the spot it's growing in!

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	34.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 68.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/1300
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Garden riot

This is a photo of the tiny bit of garden in our side yard.  It's a small strip that runs along the driveway next to the neighbour's fence.  It's no more than 6 feet wide, but it gets most of the afternoon sun, and so we plant things here.  In this photo, there's mint (wild, but I make tea from it), chives (purple flowers), strawberries and violets (also wild).  There;s also a bit of trash, which the wind carries to our yard without fail.  One of the downsides of city life.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/80
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Theme Day - Tranquility

On the first of each new month, the City Daily Photo community choose a theme, and we try to post a photo that we feel realises that theme.  This month's theme is tranquility. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants - the participants are from all over the world, and their ideas are simply marvelous!

This is from the wood next to the soccer field we go to.  The soccer field is on the edge of Central Park, and there is a mountain bike path that runs through here.  There are streams and bridges over those streams, although I think I might have rode my bike over that when I was younger I don;t think I would do so today!  Anyway, soccer practice was over, the kids were all heading for the cars and it was quiet.  The air was still and I could hear the birds in the forest, the slow trickle of the water, the voices of the children, glad to be finished with their workouts.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	31.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 62.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/30
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire