Transit of Mercury - May 7 2003

Kevin Smith

Despite thin cloud at the beginning of the transit, conditions afterwards improved, and almost the entire event was observed (on location in Appledore, Kent). Initial computer, camera and viewing problems resulted in my observing the beginning of the transit in only white light, but after resolving these problems I changed to H-alpha. A series of white light shots was obtained with a Vixen 80-mm refractor and 1000 Oaks filter, and the same instrument was used for the calcium K-line image, but with a 2.5x Powermate. The H-alpha image was obtained with a Basler FS128 plus 2x Lille telecentric unit and DayStar filter. The camera was a Basler Firewire.

Three of a series of white light images

In calcium light

In H-alpha light

Prominences observed during the transit

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