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From: Kieran Kelly (no email)
Date: Tue Jun 08 2004 - 04:06:19 EDT
Spectacular clear blue skies in Sydney – unfortunately perhaps as this is
the worst drought I have ever seen. Watched it all the way to the horizon
through a Plath Classic. Very distinct black spot moving slowly across disc
of the sun. About half way across by sunset. Even got my wife and teenage
daughters to take a look while I explained the significance to Australians
of the transit of Venus viewed by Cook in Tahiti.
Except for that astronomical event I would probably be writing this in
French. Merde! That was a close one.
Kieran Kelly
Sydney
Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Navigation Mailing List [mailto:]On
Behalf Of Lee Martin
Sent: Tuesday, 8 June 2004 4:57 PM
To:
Subject: My View of the Transit of Venus
It has been drought here in southern NSW, Australia. Total of 40mm of rain
in the last 6 months, crystal clear days and nights, week after week as we
slip into winter.
Today, low cloud, building and breaking during the day. The transit
commenced around 3.14.33pm local time (EST)....heavy cloud blocked all view.
Intermittent rays of sunshine for the next hour and a bit. Teasing.
Then at around 4.20pm, the clouds around the sun cleared for a little less
than 5 minutes. Only time enough to take in the phenomena. An absolutely
brilliant view of the transit through my sextant telescope and shades. While
I had looked at animations of the transit, I had not expected the shape of
venus to be so "definite" on the sun's surface.
At 4.30 the sun disappeared completely behind clouds and then the local
hills.
So, how did others fare?
Lee Martin
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