Skokie Valley Astronomers

Images from Martin Taylor

Martin Taylor contributed the following photographs. All of the images are copyright Martin Taylor. The images shown here have been reduced in size to fit this page. Click on an image to load a full size image in a new window.

These photographs show a cardboard box solar viewer designed and built by Martin Taylor. The design was inspired by a mirror projection system described by another Skokie Valley Astronomers club member. This solar viewer was used to view and photograph the Venus transit, June 5, 2012.

Solar telescope viewing box. The image of the sun is reflected into the right end of the box from a front-surface mirror stuck to a tripod about 10 meters (about 33 feet) away. The image is projected onto a glossy photo paper screen inside the left end of the box, and it can be seen by looking through the viewing tube.
Copyright 2012, Martin Taylor. Click on the image to load a full size image in a new window.

Front-surface mirror and tripod.
Copyright 2012, Martin Taylor. Click on the image to load a full size image in a new window.

Solar telescope mirror mount.
Copyright 2012, Martin Taylor. Click on the image to load a full size image in a new window.

Solar telescope solar image, no venus. Martin Taylor reported that he could just barely see sunspots.
Copyright 2012, Martin Taylor. Click on the image to load a full size image in a new window.

Transit of Venus, 2012-06-05, through viewing box.
Copyright 2012, Martin Taylor. Click on the image to load a full size image in a new window.