Telescopes
When the inner planets, Mercury and Venus, pass between Earth and the Sun, it is known as a “planetary transit.” While not as visually spectacular as a solar eclipse, the transit of our inner solar system’s neighbors is a remarkable sight to viewers on Earth. Unfortunately, these events are not visible to the naked eye, so let’s discuss what gear is recommended for photographing and viewing the transits.
Astronomical images NASA/JPL
Before you invest in solar viewing optics, please know that these transit events are rare.
On November 11, 2019, the planet Mercury, when viewed from our home on Planet Earth, will pass between Earth and the sun—a planetary transit across the face of the sun.
Above: A composite photograph of the 2016 transit of Mercury © NASA/JPL.
Safety First
The sun is visible to the naked eye (obviously), but Mercury is so small and distant, you cannot view the event without a telescope, binoculars, or a telephoto camera lens. IMPORTANT: These devices need to be specially built for solar viewing or properly filtered. For
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
On the morning of Monday, November 11, 2019, the planet Mercury will transit the Sun for the first time since 2016. The transit of a planet across the face of the Sun is a relatively rare occurrence since, as seen from Earth, only transits of Mercury and Venus are possible—those being the only two planets within the inner solar system and closer to the sun than our own. There are only about 13 transits of Mercury each century, and while it’s only been three years since the last transit, the next one isn’t for another 20!
Why is there such an
A few times over the past year, I have met people who, when they had a youngster express interest in astronomy, rushed out to B&H Photo to purchase the family a telescope. In a few of these anecdotes, the telescope saw limited initial use and then it was simply incorporated into the home’s décor—gathering dust in a corner. It became obvious to me that what the family could have benefited from more would have been a
The landing of the Apollo 11 lunar module, Eagle, on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969, and the first steps of a human on another celestial body, represent one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of mankind. B&H Photo is helping to commemorate the milestone anniversary of NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins’s great journey to the moon and back with several special-edition telescopes from Celestron that ship with a commemorative Apollo 11 50th anniversary coin and
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
From personal experience, whenever I try to describe to someone who’s never seen what the rings of Saturn look like through a telescope or how a sunspot moves and changes shape as it transits the chromosphere over the course of weekend, there is definitely something lost in the telling. Wouldn’t it be great if even a novice astronomer with just some basic gear and knowledge could capture their own images of heavenly bodies to post on social media or (to go old-school) print them and hang on a wall?
Well, wish no more, dear reader! We live in
Whether you’re a youngster with an interest in astronomy or a young-at-heart stargazer, selecting a first telescope can be a bit daunting. You want a telescope that’s capable, easy to use, and designed for users just beginning to explore the night sky. Levenhuk, the American optics brand focused on user-friendly products, checks all these boxes with the Strike 90 PLUS Refractor Telescope Kit.
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
Now that the March of the Planets is winding down, I’d bet you’re wondering what astronomical wonders await us in the back half of the year. Well, wonder no more! The Perseid Meteor Shower is coming, and it’s the biggest shower of the year, hitting its peak on the night of August 12-13, 2018.
Before we get too far, let’s take a step back and talk about what a meteor shower is. Showers occur when the earth passes
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
Built to the exacting standards of its founder, optics pioneer Al Nagler, which have come to define the brand, Tele Vue’s line of apochromatic doublet refractor telescopes are designed for the discerning amateur astronomer who requires a fast and highly portable optical tube that does not sacrifice performance.
While Tele Vue has made its reputation designing superior-quality eyepieces, the
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
As a member of the B&H team going on the road trip to Oregon to cover the eclipse (plus the resident uber-nerd amateur astronomer and the guy who’s been writing a lot of articles about the solar eclipse), I’m here with a reminder to grab your kit for the big show on August 21st early, before supplies run out (you don’t want to be waiting for the delivery truck on the day of the eclipse hoping it comes to your door before you miss it). If you need
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
As preparations for the upcoming North American Solar Eclipse gain momentum, Meade Instruments now offers a broad line of white-light solar and eclipse-viewing optics called the EclipseView series. Consisting of a variety of devices, this new batch of products is designed to give users a wide range of options for observing our closest star. The entire EclipseView line features ISO-certified film filters that block 99.999% of the intense light from the sun,
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
When it comes to Earth’s relationship to the sun, a great deal of mystery and misconception abound in our little spot in the solar system. In advance of the upcoming eclipses, happening on October 14, 2023 and April 8, 2024, I’m here to demystify and debunk the fiction and
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
If you have an interest in astronomy, chances are that you’ve heard of the upcoming North America Eclipse, in August 2017. And if you have a conventional telescope, you know the problem is these telescopes are all made for nighttime use so, to use them for solar and solar eclipse viewing, you need special filters to protect your instrument and (more importantly) your eyes. Luckily, we here at B&H have you covered, with filters to adapt your telescope for viewing the sun in general, and the solar eclipse, in particular.
First Things First
by Christopher Witt ·Posted
A great deal of mystery and misconception surround the topic of observing the sun and solar eclipses, and while you should absolutely not look directly at the sun without proper protection, we here at B&H have got you covered on how to enjoy viewing the sun and, later this year, the solar eclipse. Read on to see what’s available for you, if you’re interested in investing in a dedicated solar telescope.
White Light or Narrow Band?
Right out of the gate, you need to decide: White light or Narrow-band (Targeted) viewing? For specifics about
If there were ever an event that the entire family should enjoy together, it is the rare majesty of a solar eclipse. Solar eclipses, be they partial, annular, or total, are not entirely rare events, but, before 2017 it had been almost 100 years since the last total eclipse transited North America from coast to coast, and it had been almost 40 years since the last time a total eclipse could be viewed from the United States. In fact, most of Earth's citizens have never witnessed a total solar eclipse.
Let's talk about how to view a solar eclipse