TRANSIT OF VENUS, 2004 ©David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Chemistry University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Batavia OH 45103
Venus in transit at 6:38 AM	This page has been accessed  times since 8 June 2004.  8 June 2004	Venus moves beyond the edge of the sun, 7:12  AM

The following set of pictures were taken in Batavia, Ohio the morningof 8 June 2004, using the projected image of an aged Tasco astronomicaltelescope, D = 60 mm, f = 910 mm with an H 20 mm eyepiece.  This telescopehas "been through the wars" and the images show the ravages of mold onthe lenses and prisms.  None-the-less, the transit was displayed adequately.

Here are the images in chronological order.  Note that the time between images varies considerably.
 

6:38 AM This first image was taken in relatively dim light, as the sun was filtered through the haze, and barely able to project an image.	6:50  AM The progress of Venus is clearly demonstrated moving up and to the right in the series of images.  The projection is working better at this time.	6:59 AM It was a thrill to see Venus approach the edge of the sun.  The apparent oval shape is due to photographing the projected image slightly from the side	7:02 AM As Venus gets closer the to edge, the sun moves behing an electric line whose fuzzy shadow is seen in the lower left.
7:12 AM The advancing edge of Venus is beyond the edge of the sun.  Early observers interpreted the rounded edges of the 'horns' of the sun as indicating that Venus has an atmosphere.	7:16 AM Venus is more than half way beyond the edge of the sun.	7:20 AM Venus is seen as barely a notch out of the edge of the sun.  The poor condition of the lenses is particularly evident in this image.	7:21 AM This is the last image which the edge of Venus can be seen.  To the naked eye, it appeared that contact was lost at 7:25 AM.

Here are a few shots showing the set up on College Drive in Batavia, Ohio.

The first image was taken at 6:05 AM before the sun had risen.

We quickly found that the low angle sun coming through haze and pollution(!) did not project adequately to be seen without a shroud, much like was used with early cameras.

 

Venus having completed her transit, the remaining observers were, left to right, David Fankhauser, Jill Fankhauser and Amanda Hunt.

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