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May 7th, 2003
🇩🇪 - Transit of Mercury in Potsdam, Germany (more…)On May 7th, 2003 small inner planet Mercury crossed the disc of the sun. Only about half an hour after the maximum of the transit the sky cleared up enough to make an observation possible. During the transit Mercury could only be observed using optical equipment because of its minor angular width. To capture photos and videos of tiny Mercury I used a Sony Mavica CD-200 digital camera held in front of the eyepiece of a 900mm Newton reflector f/8. The video shows the planet shortly before 3rd contact, when its silhouette toches the rim of the sun.
The model of the complete solar disc makes visible what difference lies between the size of the two celestial objects. In comparison to the immense size of the sun Mercury is only a tiny body in the solar system.
Date: May 7th, 2003
Author: © Christoph Rollwagen
Camera: Sony Mavica CD-200
Lens: 18,3mm f/2,6 & 900mm-Newton-reflector f/8 + Baader AstroSolar mylar filter ND=5,0
Location: Potsdam-BornstedtAugust 11th, 1999
🇩🇪 - Total Solar Eclipse in Kastl, Germany (more…)On August 11th, 1999, the umbra of the moon passed across Europe. Many millions of people in Central Europe witnessed the 'Great European Solar Eclipse' at noon on that day. Unfortunately, the sky was overcast in many regions of France and southern Germany at the time - only a few places got in favor of a clear view of the solar corona.
I observed the eclipse in a village named Kastl near Altötting in Bavaria close to the austrian border. In the morning the sky was completely overcast. Nevertheless, I set up my telescope in the front yard of the house before the beginning of the partial phase. From time to time the sun could be seen through a few small holes in the clouds. Partly it was also visible without eclipse glasses because the clouds themselves had an excellent filter effect. Live reports of the eclipse were broadcasted from the UK and France on television as our weather continued to deteriorate. About ten minutes before the second contact, it began to rain. We quickly pulled plastic bags over the cameras. But a few minutes before the begin of totality, a cloud hole opened and the extremely narrow sun crescent could be seen. All cameras were quickly unpacked.
On the western horizon a black curtain became visible as the shadow of the moon approached. The surrounding darkened and the horizon shone in very strange colors - the second contact appeared. The dark clouds all around created an excellent contrast to the colorful eclipse horizon. The inner regions of the corona could be seen through thin clouds. I was so mesmerized by the events around me that at first I forgot to take any photos. The brief two minutes of totality passed far too quickly. While the sun was obscured by a dark cloud, the western horizon started to brighten again. At the end of totality, the world gradually became bright again - an impressive and seemingly unending process, like in the opera. The second partial phase could be observed better, the weather improved a little.
Date: August 11, 1999
Author: © Christoph Rollwagen
Camera: VHS video camera
Location: Kastl near Altötting