Eclipse2017
Idaho Falls
Dramatis Personae:
- Keith Lofstrom, MSEE UCB 1975, optical engineering team
- Dan Karlan, BSChmE MIT 1971, MSCS FDU 1973, construction engineering team
- Char Glenn, BSBio Duke 1970, MD OHSU 1995, principal photographer
- Steve Piet, PhDNuE UNC, gracious host
- and a supporting cast of dozens
Viewing Box: ancient camera tripod, bed-board, cardboard box, ABS 2 inch pipe, InFocus projector lens, brand X macro lens, bailing wire, duct tape, chewing gum
- pencil shadow and X on box, for alignment
This finely tuned optical instrument is aligned by twisting wires. Next time, add ballast and small sail to front for weight and wind balance, perhaps an old Tarheel yearbook from gracious host. Red dark adaptation goggles would filter out chromatic aberration and help with pre-eclipse dark adaptation - but who sells them???
While Dan and I tested this after we assembled it the day before the eclipse, we pessimistically assumed that the round white image projected was merely the unfocused light passing through the tube. However, there were black speckles in the middle, that sharpened as we turned the projector lens focus nob. Were the speckles artifacts? We rotated the tube and lenses; the spots did not turn with the lenses. Houston - we have sunspots!
click for larger view:
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Dan, Keith |
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Dan, Keith |
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Keith, Lens |
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Char, Keith |
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Near Totality |
