Preparing for the Transit - Pt II

Binocular Solar Projection

  Just finished making a solar projector for the upcoming Transit of Venus.  I've had two days of glorious blue skies to practice with all of the hardware, software, and thinking up a few varying ways of capturing the event.  Hopefully it will be clear skies on the 5th and I'll be able to shoot it from right here in Boulder.

Flight of the Dragon

  Space X's recently launched Dragon Capsule on its way to the International Space Station.  Completing what has only been accomplished by the US, Russia, Europe, and Japan.  Andre Kuipers of the European Space Agency has been taking some fantastic pictures and posting them to his flickr page.  

The Dragon soaring over the Rocky Mountains - Andre Kuipers

Space X's Dragon Approaches the ISS - Andre Kuipers

Space X's Dragon Approaches the ISS - Andre Kuipers

Space X's Dragon Capsule Grappled by the Canadarm - Andre Kuipers

Practice for the Transit

  I set up the telescopes and solar filter Memorial Day Weekend for some practice on the upcoming Transit of Venus.  I worked out a few of the kinks with the optics and software and think I'm ready to go.  Definitely got one of the best sunspot photographs to date.

The Sun photographed on May 26, 2012

A zoomed in photograph of Sunspot 1486 on May 26, 2012

Eclipse Part II

The Annular Solar Eclipse begins above New Castle, Colorado. 

The Solar Eclipse of May 20, 2012 

The Eclipsing Sun Shines through Clouds above Colorado

Solar Eclipse Near Maximum

The Eclipsed Setting Sun finds a clear spot in the sky

The Sun Setting and Ending a Fantastic Eclipse

Annular Solar Eclipse Video

The End of Night Hikes?

  Boulder County is proposing closure of Open Space trails at night.  Based on a study which found no specific species impacted by current night time use has lead to considerations of closing some or all trails at night.  Since people rarely use them at night and generally believe all night activity is either criminal, vagrant, or destructive, I'm sure it's probably going to happen.  I fully believe in protection of wildlife and abide by nesting closures and stay on the trails.  Closing our Open Space at night simply because it isn't "normal" is  continuing a slippery slope toward loss of freedom and privatization of our natural resources.  I'm unhappy about it.

Boulder Considers Closing Some Open Space at Night to Protect Natural Habitats - Boulder Daily Camera

  Also, a video of my cat...

Phil from Boulder

  I went to see Phil Plait of Bad Astronomer fame at the Boulder High School over the weekend.  I got to hear him talk about the wonders of the solar system.  I also finished up a video of Boulder for an ongoing project I'm working on.