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Nerdliness

Sunspots

20120928-spots.jpgAfter looking at the SpaceWeather.com website this morning, I want to the courtyard and took several images of the sun. There are three large sunspots visible in this image and several smaller ones that can’t be seen because of my my crude method of solar photography.

These three spots are not currently flaring, but they are capable of producing flares that hurl particles and radiation into space. If the flare comes toward Earth, it could affect power grids and communications.

Click on the image to enlarge.

September 28, 2012 by Nerdliness

Guns3


The FLASH™ tool I use came out with a new component; it’s a 3D photo cube. Move the mouse cursor over or near the cube to start it spinning. The position of the mouse cursor influences the speed and direction of spin.

I collected a few of the gun pictures previously seen on the other blog and loaded them into the parameters list for the cube object. It was surprisingly easy to use and I had the animation going in just a few minutes.

July 16, 2012 by Firearms Nerdliness

Solar Activity

spotz.jpg

I noticed on SpaceWeather.com that there are several solar flare alerts in connection with Sunspot number AR1520, now rounding the face of the sun. I went outside this afternoon and made this image of the solar plasma where a group of spots is clearly visible.

The scientists studying sunspots say that AR1520 could be capable of causing X-class flares which could disrupt power grids and radio communication on Earth. Click on the image to enlarge.

July 11, 2012 by Nerdliness Photography Retirement

More Solar Photography

20120630-spots.jpg

I looked on Space Weather today and saw that there were several sunspots facing Earthward. I went out to the courtyard and snapped this image through my solar filter. I later annotated the spot numbers according to the solar image on the website above. My camera was not able to resolve all the spots, but I think it did OK. Click on the image to enlarge.

June 30, 2012 by Nerdliness Photography Something Shiny

Venus at Mid-Transit

mid-transit.jpgThis image taken yesterday at about 18:24 Arizona time, is the approximate mid point of the transit of Venus. I adjusted the image such that ecliptic north is up. Venus moved from left to right across the northern hemisphere of the solar disc.

Image: Venus at Mid-Transit. Camera: Canon SX-40, Rainbow Symphony Solar Filter, Shutter Speed: 1/2000′, Aperture: F 5.0, Film Speed: ISO 3200. I hand held the camera and did not use a tripod. Click image to enlarge.

We were not able to watch or photograph much more after I took this image, since the terrain at our house rises to the west and apparent sunset is about forty minutes before actual. Regardless, we would not have been able to see Venus exit the disc since that occurred well after sundown here in the 48 contiguous states. We feel lucky that we got to see the midpoint of the transit.

We also feel lucky to have witnessed two solar events in just a little over three weeks, the first semi-rare event being the annular eclipse and this extremely rare Venus transit. The next transit of Venus will be 105 years hence in the year 2117.

June 6, 2012 by Nerdliness Photography Something Shiny

Venus Transit of the Sun Tomorrow – June 5, 2012

transit.JPGTomorrow is the rare solar transit of planet Venus. Even though we’re going to be running errands tomorrow afternoon, we’re taking our cameras, solar filters and eclipse shades in an attempt to witness and record the phenomenon. The event starts at a little after three our time and will still be in progress at sundown. We will be home when Venus reaches the halfway point across the solar disc. We will be using the same cameras and techniques used for the May 20 annular eclipse.

Here’s some information I posted last month:

There is a listing of transit contact events for US cities (and another for international). The closest city listed to our location is Phoenix, AZ. The first event is when the disc of Venus first touches the solar disc occurs at 15:05:55 (Arizona Time); the sun will be 54° above the horizon. The second event is when the other edge of Venus crosses the edge of the sun and occurs at 15:23:32; the sun will be at 50° of elevation. The last transit contact listed is greatest transit which, I assume, is when Venus is halfway across its path over the sun; that occurs at 18:25:24 when the sun is at 13° of elevation.

There is supposed to be a live webcast covering the event. Remember – if you miss this transit, the next one will not be until the year 2117.

June 4, 2012 by Nerdliness Something Shiny

Avalon 1998

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