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A good view of the planet and Sun through haze at about 0630 with my
Astra IIIB and telescope sight, and dark filters.  The transit was
perhaps two-three planet diameters from done.  I did see a website with
some math, for those interested:

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/2004/2004images/VT_Activity3.p
df

The next transit will be visible in its entirety from much of Western
Canada; how many of us will remember how to handle sextants then?

John Kabel
London, ON  Canada

>
> 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
> weekas 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 fora 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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