About to eyewitness another cosmic event – Solar Eclipse 14 November 2012

— Posted inUncategorized — 1 min read

Several months after the Annular Solar Eclipse in May, a total partial :doh: lunar eclipse & the Transit of Venus in June, we are about to be treated with another cosmic event. This time it is another solar eclipse. Those lucky people in northern Australia will experience the total solar eclipse (Apocalypto! :yikes:). While us in the North Island of New Zealand will still be ale to eyewitness a partial solar eclipse, if prepared well. 😎

I'm not really prepared. No solar observation glass. I will still try a pinhole method for safe observation & maybe photo-recording. If you have another idea of safe eclipse observation & photo taking, please post a quick comment for me. It will be much appreciated.

The eclipse will start in less than under hour and half, and max at 10.34 NZDST, which is in 2.5 hours. A quiet excitement has started to build up. 😀

I'll keep you posted. Watch the space. 😎

Related information:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/7945162/Fine-weather-for-partial-eclipse

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  1. Thanks, Sami. You're right. I've done a quick search & found the same, or projection using a telescope, is recommended if you don't have a proper solar filter. There's some suggesting a welder's protective glass can also be used. But I don't have time to go hardware store hopping in a hunt of welder's glass. Luckily I have two tripods. I'll see what I can do with them 😉

  2. Sorry, no suggestions. But the pinhole method is actually pretty good to even take pictures of it 😉

  3. A layer of thin clouds is over the eastern sky now. I've decided not to meddle with tripods, etc, and instead use a slight concave lens to project the reflection on white ceiling. The image is a bit elongated due to the angle, but should be able to show when the eclipse starts (which is about now ;)) & how it progresses. I'll now go off-line and chase the eclipse at home 😀

  7. Great! :hat: Although, it would be interesting to see more of the context 😀 One could for example use a postcard and then project solar eclipse on it :lol:Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    Found a couple more rather innovative observation methods on Twitter

    Oh yes! Those are 😎

  8. I'm late, but I would have suggested that a pinhole but using the image sensor of a webcam instead of a sheet of paper! :sherlock:I think I must experiment with this if we ever see the sun again here! (record rainfalls this year, hardly a dry day in months!)

  9. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    Unfortunately only webcam I have is built onto laptop lid

    Ah, yes. That wouldn't work. :left:I bought a gooseneck style one to take apart. (I have a plan for the gooseneck.) And discovered that I can remove the lens and turn iy around to make a microscope. I suspect it could make a good pinhole camera for solar eclipse viewing with a piece of Aluminium foil for the 'lens'

  10. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    Would cellphone camera have done the same job as a webcam?

    No, the idea is to replace the webcam lens with a pinhole. Most webcams have lenses that can screw out. :up;

  11. One can try to put a pinhole even on front of normal camera lens 😉

  12. Originally posted by qlue:

    Most webcams have lenses that can screw out.

    I see. Unfortunately only webcam I have is built onto laptop lid. I don't think I can get it out. I did use a monocular with x8 lens, which did a reasonable job.

  13. Thanks, guys. @Sami In the end I had a white photocopy paper on carpet, a small monocular in left hand & the camera in right, trying to point the projection on to the paper while aiming the camera through the view finder. It was fiddly but I managed. The pic uploaded was taken with the phone camera so the quality is not so great. I'll try uploading the dSLR pics tomorrow. :)Originally posted by qlue:

    using the image sensor of a webcam instead of a sheet of paper!

    Would cellphone camera have done the same job as a webcam?

  15. Hi MM, I just saw on TV that the Mount Tongariro ejects ash. Is everything okay with you?

  16. Thanks, guys. :)@Angelika Everything's fine here in Wellington. We are having a gorgeous run of fine warm weather and I've been busy out in the garden digging, planting & getting dirty. 😀

  17. Aluminium foil is recommended. The pinhole is put in with a glover's needle, with only about 1/16" of it protruding from a cork. Then the foil-cum-pinhole is placed in a filter retaining ring, to keep it kinda stretched, like. A straight tube is fine for mounting on a camera … I've only done this with film, so I don't know how it would work on a didgy. The longer the tube, the bigger the image (and the longer the exposure, too). If everything is steady, and the pinhole is big enough to avoid diffraction effects, surprisingly good pics can result.I understand Smaug is getting restless, down there … keep your bow and arrows handy.

  18. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    Everything's fine here in Wellington.

    :happy: That's very good! I wish you all the best and many nice experiences with you camera.Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    I'll try uploading the dSLR pics tomorrow.

    I'm looking forward!

  20. Originally posted by derWandersmann:

    I've only done this with film, so I don't know how it would work on a didgy.

    Well, a didgy has a much smaller surface area than the average film, so is might work better with a suitably bright object. (e.g. the sun)On my webcam, the image element is a mere 4mmx3mm give or take. So you can place the pinhole really close to the element, retaining image intensity without sacrificing on size. :sherlock:As I recall, we used to make pin holes by placing the foil on a sheet of glass and then pressing a sewing needle against it. (pins usually don't have a sharp enough point)I'm guessing that this isn't the glover's needle you were talking about! :p:sst: I've made my own, excruciatingly sharp, pins with a dremel, a short length of brazing rod and some emery paper! :up:

  22. Originally posted by derWandersmann:

    I understand Smaug is getting restless, down there … keep your bow and arrows handy.

    Yes, my lord :knight: And I'm sure there will be a lot more armed Dwarfs gathering down here in Wellington for The Hobbit World Premier next week. :DThanks, Angelika & Crysta 🙂

  23. Originally posted by derWandersmann:

    Aluminium foil is recommended. The pinhole is put in with a glover's needle, with only about 1/16" of it protruding from a cork. Then the foil-cum-pinhole is placed in a filter retaining ring, to keep it kinda stretched, like. A straight tube is fine for mounting on a camera … I've only done this with film, so I don't know how it would work on a didgy. The longer the tube, the bigger the image (and the longer the exposure, too). If everything is steady, and the pinhole is big enough to avoid diffraction effects, surprisingly good pics can result.

    Thanks. I shall keep this for reference when the next one comes in twenty-something years. :p (Actually there is another one in Australia next year. But I don't think I'd bother with a trip there. It could rain.Originally posted by qlue:

    retaining image intensity

    Isn't it dangerous? :confused: I thought the while point of pin-hole, etc, is to diffuse the intensity, otherwise the sensor (or your eye) gets burnt.)

  24. Mum Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    Yes, my lord :knight: And I'm sure there will be a lot more armed Dwarfs gathering down here in Wellington for The Hobbit World Premier next week.

  25. Hi, Crysta :DYap! The Hobbit is coming. And the dwarves, too. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/culture/7985809/Richard-Armitage-the-warrior-dwarfI'm hoping to go down town in next few days to have a look at the festivities building up for the première on coming Thursday Wednesday. Big hobbity displays, hobbit market and such stuff. Unfortunately a rather tight work order came in last night. So my plan is work weekend, then hobbity town stroll early next week. 😉

  26. The pinhole is a very small f/stop, MM… there's usually not much chance of getting too much light through it. It's essentially a lens of infinitely variable focal length. But a didgy is an unknown quantity in that respect. It's one thing to maybe ruin a frame of film, but quite another to think about possibly ruining a CCD or CMOS.You could use your dad's old Canon, and take the fungus-afflicted lens off. Get a roll of 35mm film and see how it works.

  27. Or Aadil can do the experiment for me. :DSeems my weekend is turning into another all-work-&-no-play one. Took on a translation in a totally unfamiliar area (of art exhibition pamphlet of all things!) Now I realise I'll have to look up for an English name of every single minor art award each artist has won in their career. It will take time! :irked:

  28. You may try capturing a dwarf, pretty safely with a camera. But remember this, my lord. Never toss a dwarf! :pPSAnd I'd LOVE a chance to capture Richard Armitage with my camera! :love:

  29. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    But remember this, my lord. Never toss a dwarf!

    Exactly what I referred to 😉 So, if you can't toss a dwarf, then you can't capture one either :p

  31. Cheers, Crysta. I'll work hard to finish this off while dreaming on of bumping into Richard Armitage or Benedict Cumberbatch (played Smaug the dragon!) on an after work hobbity down town stroll. :D@Sami Hope you also get my point, about how hot Richard Armitage is :p I do realise that picture of him in the article, in all thick dwarf facial hair and prosthesis, may have disguised how attractive he is. So please, my lord, allow me to present Mr Armitage from another angle. :DImage courtesy of Wikipedia/Wikimedia, originally found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ArmitageBAFTAs2010.jpgNow you see, I hope. :love:

  32. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    Unfortunately a rather tight work order came in last night. So my plan is work weekend, then hobbity town stroll early next week.

    Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    look up for an English name of every single minor art award each artist has won in their career.

    Mum, Work is good but it sounds like it is suddenly overwhelming. 🙁 Hope you come through it OK and get back to your life of leisure as soon as possible!!!

  36. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    how hot Richard Armitage is

    Ok, I admit he is hot :troll: ( <- jealous ) But he is not a genuine dwarf :p"Height 6' 2" (1.88 m)"

  38. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    my hot "Porter" was walking around in the same town as I live!

    Don't burn yourself :p

  39. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    So please, my lord, allow me to present Mr Armitage from another angle.

    :up: OMG! MM…get away that tepmt….:lol: :coffee:

  40. Cheers, Zena. :cheers: He's very hot, isn't he? :yes:You know what's funny? I didn't know he was playing the role of Thorin Oakenshield or even his name was Richard Armitage. I discovered him playing a special forces soldier in a rather violent British TV action drama. I only knew him as the "Porter" in Strike Back. Never bothered to learn his real name. So I didn't know he was on The Hobbit until today, when I read the local newspaper article and realised this actor Richard Armitage playing Thorin in The Hobbit WAS the hot "Porter"! Imagine my surprise finding out and my hot "Porter" was walking around in the same town as I live! :yikes:

  41. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    Isn't it dangerous? I thought the while point of pin-hole, etc, is to diffuse the intensity, otherwise the sensor (or your eye) gets burnt.)

    Originally posted by derWandersmann:

    The pinhole is a very small f/stop, MM… there's usually not much chance of getting too much light through it.

    Exactly. :up:In fact, that's the whole problem with the camera obscura. On one hand, it's the perfect, distortion free lens. On the other hand, it's only useful for very bright subjects unless you can use very long exposure times. a 35mm film would require the pinhole to be a few feet from the film to get an image of the sun to fill the view field. But, due to the inverse square law of light intensity, you would need a longer exposure. For every extra centimetre between the pinhole and the film, you would have to double the exposure time to get the same exposure. This doesn't work well for moving objects or with digital imaging chips. (digital imaging chips have a slow exposure time to start with)

  42. Aadil, I think I was totally misunderstanding what you intended to do with the web-cam you mentioned you could take apart (, which is what I thought dW was referring to as "didgy".) I thought the "didgy" was the lens of web-cam you said you could take out & use instead of a pin-hole on a sheet in your intended solar observation structure. And I somehow thought you were planning to place a camera behind it, or, even try looking through it with your own eye. That's why I thought it would be rather a dangerous thing to do.But reading through those comments again, I now realise dW and Aadil were referring to the web-cam sensor as "didgy", not the removable lens, and talking about using a pin-hole set up all along. :doh:Time to go to bed, and dream about chasing the hot dwarf in disguise all over Wellington waterfront with my trusty Oly in my hand. :DNight, guys. :zzz:

  43. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    I'll work hard to finish this off while dreaming on of bumping into Richard Armitage

    Mum!!! Do You have a pinup of him on your wall yet??? or in a frame on your end table???

  44. Originally posted by derWandersmann:

    I recommend 0.5mg of Xanax.

    May be, derWandersDoctor???

  46. I don't do pills :whistle:But you've got to admit. He IS pleasing to your eyes, isn't he? And dW would be please to know he was trained by a former SAS soldier to handle a variety of military firearms as a part of preparation for his role of a British special force soldier. Not just a pretty face. 😀

  47. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    Imagine my surprise finding out and my hot "Porter" was walking around in the same town as I live!

    :no: :yes: Really…well, give my warm and :love: ly kisses….:lol: :bomb: or :wait: :yes: Have a gr8 weekend MM…off to visit my family today…in North Holland…:yes: :coffee: :bye:

  48. Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

    He IS pleasing to your eyes, isn't he?

  49. Originally posted by derWandersmann:

    I recommend 0.5mg of Xanax.

    I understood that as a suggestion how to capture a dwarf :sherlock: But I have a better 💡 Use a mine to lure the dwarf 😀 But don't use mine! I have no use for dwarfs :p

  50. 😀 Thank you guys. You all have a great weekend. ;)@Sami I could take up your offer, if you were coming to Wellington 😆

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