Observing Methods

What is the best method to time the second and the third contact? some
options that
I can think of are-

a. Visually watching through a guided telescope (at high power) and
giving a audio signal, which can be recorded along with the time beeps from
the radio.
b. Attaching a video to the telescope (either afocal or eyepiece
projection) with radio time signal beeps and later analysing the recording.
c. Attaching a webcam to the telescope.............. (this is easier to
couple to the telescope than a video camera)

Please do suggest any better method that you know of.
How do we tap into and use the standard clocks available at observatories.
Ajay Talwar

>c. Attaching a webcam to the telescope.............. (this is easier to
>couple to the telescope than a video camera)

 -- one could also project the image of the sun on a screen and keep aclock (digital or otherwise) And film the sequence using a web cam or a video recorder.
 Talking about angular sizes  The Sun at the time of Transit is 1890.7" and venus is 57.7" That make Venus 32.8 times smaller than the Sun.

Now if you make projected image of the sun say 300 mm in diamter  then you will have  huge venus about 9.1 mm dia. The timing accuracy will then be limted by qaulity of the final or recored image and atmospheric conditions.
- Arvind  Paranjpye

I trust you will be using an eyepiece with a reticle. This will be a
great help. - Nirupama Raghavan

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