Solar Eclipse - May 20, 2012

[K7VZ]

Several of us headed west of the valley last night to get a good view of the western horizon and watched the solar eclipse.

Virgil K7VZ, Marcia K7AZM, and Evan
Paul KE7NEA and Jennifer
Kurt KE7KUS and Teena and 3 kids.
Chris K6OZY and brother, mom, grandma.

Thanks to the ladies across the street that lent us a pair of solar glasses as well. Next time, take welding masks.

We assembled on the NW end of Sun Valley Parkway at Desert Oasis Blvd. in an area of Sun City Festival that has yet to be developed. Kurt brought the materials to build a pinhole viewer. It started with a MFJ antenna box (some assembly required) and we taped aluminum foil over one end. The other end was taped shut with a viewing area cut out on the top of one side. A small hole was punched into the aluminum foil and then we lined it up with the sun to get the reverse image on the open end of the box. We used a stake from the construction survey and taped the aligned box to it so someone didn't have to sit there and hold it.

Some of the crew getting the pinhole viewer setup.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/solareclipse4x4ham.jpg

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-05-11_395.jpg

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-05-18_287.jpg

What we saw. Progression of the eclipse. This view creates a flipped image of the eclipse. The moon actually started on the lower right edge of the sun and moved up and over the center.

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-04-33_140.jpg

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-21-30_448.jpg

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-30-54_960.jpg

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-34-34_316.jpg

http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-42-47_314.jpg

I was able to capture this photo by holding the camera lens up to the dark tinted glasses the other group of ladies viewing the eclipse loaned us.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-37-41_190.jpg

Don't look directly at the sun. I did take a few photos direct at it. You can't see the eclipse this way, but it did create a lens reflection of it in the lower right.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/2012-05-20_18-28-50_951.jpg

And we'll close with this awesome photo Paul took of Marcia and Evan.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv231/k7azv/2012-05-20%20-%20Solar%20Eclipse/evan.jpg

I've never seen a solar eclipse before and really enjoyed it. Thanks for inviting me out guys!

[K7NNT]

Very cool Guys!

[KE7KUS]

Great photos, Virgil. Thanks for putting this together. The eclipse was great to watch, and even more enjoyable given the great group of folks that showed up. See you all again in 2017!

[AG3NT]

I wish I could've made it out that far to view it. The haze from the fire up north wasn't helping with my view at Carefree and 7th Ave. I did get a few shots, but nothing spectacular. (A friend on AZFJ actually managed some GREAT shots with his telescope setup though!)

http://xanthotech.com/gallery/d/8814-2/IMG_0752.jpg

Do want more zoom!

[N5MUD]

Love your high-tech viewer! Good job folks.

[KE7KUS]

If you'll carefully notice the viewer is an MFJ Solar Eclipse Viewer. About parallel with the quality of other MFJ products I own...