Since most of you readers are probably here because you’re interested in astronomy, I’m counting on most of you knowing about the recent transit of Venus. It’s already been two months ago actually, June 5-6, since our neighbouring planet Venus passed directly between the Sun and us and it won’t happen again before December in the year of 2117!
I missed the event. Even if I would’ve gotten some of those Solar Shades, to protect your eyes from looking in the direction of the Sun, and even if I would’ve found a hill without houses blocking the view… we had clouds. And I gathered from most of my friends on twitter that they had clouds too. But there were places on this planet where people did see it happen and even captured the moment with their digital cameras.
Brian May used one of these pictures, from Prof Greg Parker, and worked his magic to make a stereo impression of it! He put it on his website, where you can find hints on how to free view these pictures too. Coincidentally, I used to love those 3D cards as well, but I often got frustrated when this freeviewing didn’t work. So besides Brian’s music, I also got his OWL Stereoscope (a while ago). I printed this picture and I saw Venus passing in front of the Sun after all.
Above: the picture from Prof Greg Parker, of which Brian May made the stereo impression, as shown on his website: www.brianmay.com. You can click on this image to get the biggest picture to print it. Below: Me using the OWL Stereoscope to view the image. I got the OWL together with the book ‘A Village Lost And Found’ by the way, which – besides the amazing pictures – reads one of my favourite quotes: “To those whose eyes are open, clues are everywhere, and the excitement of discovery continues”. Enough said eh.
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Ben net in dit boek over dit onderwerp begonnen. Is wel een aanrader! http://historiek.net/nieuws/boeken/overige-boeken/6478-venus-achterna-andrea-wulf
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[...] However! Brian posted one of Jamie’s excellent pictures of it, for 3D viewing! (Remember Venus? I’m making cards of these [...]