Venus Transit 2004/6/8

6:53 EDT, an airplane happened to join the transit. 1/270 second, F6, EXP+0.3, f8.2mm, ISO 200, white balance cloudy. All images on this page are taken with Baader Astrosolar filter, Celestron star hopper 8"/f6 Dob, Scopetronix 18mm eyepiece/adapter, Nikon coolpix 995 digital camera. From Green Tree, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Double Transit. This photo appeared on the front page of 2004/6/9's Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

A faint ring of light (aureole) can be seen surronding the dark part of Venus, evidence that Venus has an atmosphere. Some interesting observations:
1. The ring of light is most visible when most of Venus is still within the disc of the Sun;
2. The lower half of the ring is brighter than the upper half.
The photos were intentionally over-exposed to bring out the ring of light.
Figure 1--4: The ring of light is most evident immediately after the third contact. And the lower half of the ring is more prominent.
Figure 1: 7:07 EDT. 1/15 second, F3.8, f19.1mm, ISO 200, white balance cloudy
Figure 2: 7:08 EDT. F3.8, f19.1mm, ISO 200.
Figure 3: 7:08 EDT. F3.3, f15.0mm, ISO 200.
Figure 4: 7:09 EDT. F3.3, f15.0mm, ISO 200.

[Figure 1,2,3,4] The ring of light (aureole) shows Venus has an atmosphere

Figure 5--8: The ring of light gradually disappears as Venus moves further out of the Sun. Again the lower half is relatively more visible.
Figure 5: 7:10 EDT. 1/15 second, F3.3, f15.0mm, ISO 400
Figure 6: 7:10 EDT. 1/60 second, F3.8, f19.3mm, ISO 800
Figure 7: 7:11 EDT. 1/60 second, F3.8, f19.3mm, ISO 800
Figure 8: 7:12 EDT. 1/30 second, F3.8, f19.3mm, ISO 800

[Figure 5,6,7,8] The ring of light gradually disappears as Venus moves out.

Figure 9--12: The ring of light has all but disappeared after Venus is half way out.
Figure 9: 7:16 EDT. 1/30 second, F5.1, f31.0mm, ISO 800
Figure 10: 7:23 EDT. 1/30 second, F5.1, f31.0mm, ISO 400
Figure 11: 7:23 EDT. 1/30 second, F5.1, f31.0mm, ISO 800
Figure 12: 7:25 EDT. 1/15 second, F5.1, f31.0mm, ISO 800

[Figure 9,10,11,12] The ring of light disappeared after Venus is half way out.

Third contact. No obvious 'black drop'. Composite of six photos. 7:04 -- 7:06 EDT. 1/125 second, F5.1, f31mm, ISO 200, white balance cloudy.

Contact III

Venus Transit 2004/6/8 6:27 EDT. 1/177 second, F3.7, f8.2mm, ISO 200, white balance cloudy.

Venus Transit 2004/6/8 6:27 EDT.

Telescope Setting