Partial Solar Eclipse

Today we had a partial solar eclipse here in Macarthur, just before sunset. The forecast was cloudy and the eclipse occurred when the Sun was nearing the horizon, so was not expecting to get an image at all - but I did manage this shot during a thinning of the clouds. Not the best of solar shots but I was happy under the circumstances.

29th April 2014 Partial Solar Eclipse as seen from the Macarthur Region of NSW.     (C) RP

This image was taken with my Lunt 60mm Solarscope and 60D camera, as the eclipse was still "waxing". 

What have I learned from this event?

1. A solar telescope can help pick out the sun through light cloud by ramping up the exposure level. At times when the Sun was barely visible on live view or with the naked eye. it was still possible to image the Sun by using a slower shutter. 

2. Clouds always interfere with important astronomical events.

3. A solarscope is a very good option to have at one's disposal for solar eclipses. Roll on 2028 in Sydney! 

The clouds forced me to give up long before it reached maximum eclipse - the sun was low and the clouds were thick. So I went indoors and decided to inflict my "best" image on my good friends on Facebook, Google Plus and Panoramio, while the many good people of Wilkes Land, Antarctica, were still enjoying a full annular eclipse. 

29th April 2014 Partial Solar Eclipse as seen from the Macarthur Region of NSW.     (C) RP,