Our observation - 8th June 2004
Our observation of Venus transit was carried out from the roof of our school Gymnazium of Tomáš Garrique Masaryk in Litvínov (13.6077777°E, 50.5980555° N), with two telescopes Newton (Ø 12 a 10 cm, f = 1140 mm a 700 mm) and a camera MTO 1000 (Ø 10 cm, f = 1000 mm). Mr. Bohumír Šípek, a professor of physics and Michal Porteš, a student of our school, were responsible for the observation, Pavel Eger for checking the time and Martina Dočkalová was taking photographs.
process of the transit (photomontage)
The D` day
- 6:30 - We are meeting together at school and we are installing all the equipment on the roof our school building, everything has to be perfect for the best observation.
- 7:00 - We are getting a bit nervous because of slight cloudiness above the eastern horizon. We are impatiently monitoring the actual weather forecast.
- 7:10 - The sky has become clear.The sun is shining and the thermometer is showing temperature of 28°C.
- 7:18 - Each of us is expecting something special...
- 7:20 - Here is the first contact! We are having the priviledge to belong among the first ones who have a chance to see something like that after one hundred and twenty two years. Wonderful!
- 7:39 - Venus is completely depicted on the Sun disc.Our physics teacher claims with a trembling voice that he sees the black drop.
- 8:43 - Some of our most curious schoolmates are coming up to the roof to watch our observation and our actual results. Do they realise the fineness of this astronomical event? They have many questions. It CAN be a signal that they are interested.
- 10:18 - The temperature on the roof is quickly rising, and because we have little time we gather together with the other astronomers in the shade trying to protect ourselves from the sun and cool ourselves as much as possible. Periodically we take photographs, give instructions to somebody, we adjust the telescopes or sometimes we have a small briefing.
- 11:30 - Venus has been seen by one hundred and nineteen students, the temperature on the roof has stabilized at 39°C.
- 12:43 - We are slowly preparing for the second most important part of our observation though we are half dead from the heat which culminated with the temperature of 45°C, to our relief the air is not trembling at all and the sky is absolutely clear.
- 13:03 - The third contact with the edge of the Sun disc. We can`t resist the nostalgy because the whole event will have finished in twenty minutes.
- 13:22 - One deep breath. The end. Venus has just disappeared in the shine of our mother star. Thank you, space, for that nice performance!
The D'day in dates
- We didn`t have only two telescopes, but also a photo-camera, two pairs of special glasses for observing the Sun eclipse, 6 cm a monochrome exposed film, a few insides of diskettes, a welding helmet and a small sack of sweets, thanks to Mr. Šípek, our physics teacher.
- One hundred and forty-three students, nine professors, a school caretaker and one passer-by saw Venus from the roof of our school.
- We have taken thirty-five photos on the film Kodak 2000 (exposure time 1/150 s - 1/500 s).
- In that terrible heat on the school roof (subjectively reminding the Venus's heat) we drunk fourteen litres of liquid and probably the same amount was perspired during this extraordinary day.