Transit of Mercury 2019 Nov 11

Oct07
by catz on October 7, 2019 at 15:52 and modified on October 7, 2019. at 15:55
Posted In: astronomy

2019nov11

The transit of Mercury across the face of the Sun is fast approaching!
Time to start thinking and preparing for the event. This graphics shows that the entire transit will be visible for us in eastern ontario canada.

From wikipedia:
Transits of Mercury occur in May or November. The last four transits occurred on November 15, 1999; May 7, 2003; November 8, 2006; and May 9, 2016. The next will occur on November 11, 2019, and then on November 13, 2032. A typical transit lasts several hours.
Start 12:35 UTC
Mid 15:20 UTC
End 18:04 UTC
Total transit time = 18:04-12:35 = 5 hours 29 minutes.
Daylight Saving Time switches on Sunday 2019 November 03!
We are 5 hours behind UTC so for us the transit starts at 07:35 EST and ends at 13:03 EST.

our plans are to:
1) video the entire event with a camcorder with a solar filter
2) take still images every few minutes with a DSLR camera and a 300mm lens with a solar filter.
3) take still images with an astro camera on a telescope with a solar filter.

The path takes it very close to being across the middle of the sun as well.. providing for a longer transit time.