Observations

8.VI.2004 - Venus Transit

Following table shows values of astronomical unit (AU) determined from particular contacts (measurement of the contacts: V. Karlovsky):

Snapshots of the particular contacts (time in UTC + 2 hr):

Contact T2 A (jpg 4kB)	Contact T2 B (jpg 4kB)	Contact T2 C (jpg 4kB)
Contact T3 A (jpg 4kB)	Contact T3 B (jpg 4kB)	Contact T3 C (jpg 4kB)

Animations of the particular contacts (time in UTC + 2hr):

Contact T2 (gif 904kB)

Contact T3 (gif 886kB)

7:00 UT, 7:29 UT, 7:45 UT and 8:10 UT (jpg 48kB)

8:30 UT, 8:51 UT and 9:00 UT (jpg 32kB)

7:18 UT (jpg 13kB)

First image is showing the assembly consisting of lens with focal length 4 metres (+0.25 diopters) diaphragmed to 9 mm and additional plain mirror used to observe Venus Transit in primary focus. Image of Sun is projected onto a screen. Next images are the snapshots of the screen showing Venus Transit in the primary focus of lens with focal length 4 metres compared to lens with focal length 6 metres:

Whole assembly (jpg 23kB)

Screen snapshot [f=4m] (jpg 15kB)

Screen snapshot [f=6m] (jpg 14kB)

Vladimir Karlovsky

8./9.XI.2003 - Lunar Eclipse

During the night of 8th/9th November 2003 we observed Lunar Eclipse by photographic method. We obtained following three images using MIR 100/1100 teleobjective, exposure on film Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 400 ASA. At 1:09 UT was the Earth's shadow quite light and had a purple-red colour. Photo: V. Karlovsky.

Lunar Eclipse captured in times (from the left): 23:49 UT, 0:32.5 UT and 1:07 UT (jpg 11kB)

Vladimir Karlovsky

31.V.2003 - Solar Eclipse

On 31th May 2003 we observed partial Solar Eclipse by photographic method. We obtained following images using MIR 100/1100 teleobjective during interval 3:42 UT - 4:16 UT.

Solar Eclipse (jpg 14kB)

Vladimir Karlovsky

7.V.2003 - Mercury Transit

On 7th May 2003 we observed Mercury Trasit by visual and photographic method. We also captured an VHS video record during contacts T3 and T4. Time received from the time signal DCF 77 Mainflingen (Germany) was included into the video frames.

Mercury Transit at 7:06 UT (jpg 24kB)

Vladimir Karlovsky

19.XI.2002 - Leonids

Leonids in Hlohovec was observed in contrary conditions. Weather was changable and it was possible to observe only through gaps in the clouds. Moon was just one day before full phase, thus we were allowed to observe the brighter meteors only. ZHR was computed, but relative maxima occured approximately at 3:40 UT , 4:05 UT and 4:25 UT. The most remarkable maximum was at 4:05 UT. Photographic observation was performed during following intervals:

interval beginning (UT) end (UT) 1. 2:51 3:01 2. 3:20 3:34 3. 3:52 4:11 4. 4:12 4:41

Photographic observation of Leonids (jpg 20kB)

using wide angle Flektogon 2,8/20 mm objective, exposed on film Agfacolor HDC (400 ASA). During 2:50 - 4:41 UT we observed several bright meteors with perceptible colours: 1 red a 3 green. We also observed following interesting evengs: 1 time 3 bright meteors at once and 6 times 2 bright meteors (~ 2 mag) at once. Meteors was comming in batches, always several together followed by short pause.

Vladimir Karlovsky