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[Paulie pchris00]

Would it be wrong to try to turn a small profit off the transit?

Not that that was among my first thoughts. I did, however, think it might be a good idea to have "eclipse glasses" on hand to distribute. Not that they're outrageously expensive, and I don't mind paying for them out of pocket, but why should I pay for somebody else to view the transit naked eye? I'll already be offering views through telescopes. Most of the glasses will probably be tossed as soon as the Sun sets on transit day anyway. I could set out a box to return them for use at future events, but that leaves me with the problem of storing them, and checking that none have been damaged.

Thoughts?


www.rainbowsymphonystore.com/eclipseshades.html

the3dmarket.com/collections/eclipsers

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie,

For astro geeks like us, these would be cool.

But for the lay-person...and without magnification of the solar disk.....it will be a oh hum event - despite the once in a lifetime speck against the disk.

I would have a small handful to use and reuse for the event - not to be given out.

I dig that you are planning the event well in advance and squeezing all you can out of it.

[Paulie pchris00]

I submit this video of the 2004 transit from Mishawaka, IN. Everybody has eclipse glasses. They were supplied by an auto dealer the month leading up to the transit.





And, my only view of the 2004 transit was through eclipse glasses bought at Adler morning of. I'm going to keep this in mind, and make a decision in January.

My other thought is that by keeping the masses occupied with their own glasses, it could give me more telescope time of my own. I'd also thought about paying Hillary to handle my scopes during the important ingress. If she also sells the glasses for me, she could keep the cash, and I get a few extra "private" moments with Venus & Sol. I don't want to be a hermit watching alone at home, but after 8 years of anticipation, I think I'm owed a little private time with the transit.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Heh...I like how the astronomer gets annoyed at the clue-less clown who walks in front of the scope and I would have shoved the sun sheild farther up the spotters scope's tube for a tight fit. I did like the Universal Coordinated Time announcements on the Shortwave.

But, I think that the glasses were nice, but not a wow factor for the gazers. It can't hurt and is a little kick in the enjoyment.

I wonder, as the Sun sets, will the atmospheric distortions will enhance the view. In 2004, I was able to see the silhouette of Venus naked eye as it rose quite clearly and comfortably.

[Paulie pchris00]

I really think I'm going to do this. It'll be fun, and give people something to look for while waiting their turn at a telescope. Whether I'm going to sell them, give them away, or lend them out depends on how many I buy, and how much I spend per unit. I'm also going to recommend to the CAS board to look into this as part of our public transit observing.


For 40 cents a unit (50-99 ordered), or 35 cents a unit for 100 or more, the overstock glasses I could afford to give away.

www.rainbowsymphonystore.com/eclipse-glasses-overstock.html


I can't tell what the design on these are, but they say they're for the annular solar eclipse and Venus transit of 2012. At 85 cents a unit (25-99 ordered), I wouldn't want to get stuck with a bunch afterward, and would definitely want to make a few bucks on them. $2-$3 seems a fair price, and a nice margin.

www.rainbowsymphonystore.com/annular-solar-eclipse-2012.html


If the design was really cool like this, I'd want to keep a few for myself as a souvenir.

www.rainbowsymphony.com/eclipse/venustransitglasses.html


Just an idea to boost the overall ambiance of the day, maybe pay for my gas, and provide a souvenir of the rare event.

[Paulie pchris00]

If I get the ones marked as Transit of Venus 2012 (and I am pretty sure I will be), all of my Chicago Astronomer friends will be getting one, no charge. If nothing else, it will be a nice souvenir of the event.

Just don't wear them while driving, no matter how cool you look. I don't want to be held liable.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

all of my Chicago Astronomer friends will be getting one

Righteous.

[Centaur]

Dec 5, 2011 21:14:28 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

Would it be wrong to try to turn a small profit off the transit?

The corporate establishment wants all working stiffs to feel that there is something wrong with individually profiting from one’s work, while those corporate directors commute with luxury cars from their mansions to their board meetings. Of course you can sell something of value for money, Paulie! It’s those who expect not to be required to provide anything in exchange who should feel ashamed. Exempting those who in the past have provided services or friendship is understandable. But others should expect to pay. It’s the American way. Welcome to the honorable world of entrepreneurship.

[Paulie pchris00]

I don't feel guilty about trying to make money off astronomy, and I fully intend to someday make at least a nice second income off it, if not give up working for a living entirely. The Venus transit is a completely different animal, though.

The rarity, the history, the science and knowledge to be gained, and the opportunity to introduce observational astronomy to the masses makes it feel wrong to try to milk it for money. Nobody who wants to see the transit should be turned down because of an inability to pay. Nobody I know will be charging to peek through a telescope that day, but it happened in many places during past transits. This is one event that I strongly feel should be about the experience and learning, not profiteering. I know all too well that seeing the disk of Venus in front of the Sun can change a worldview. If I hadn't seen the 2004 transit, I might not be posting here right now, or regularly watching the sky if it hadn't been for the 2004 transit. It took a few years to fully sink in, but it literally changed my life. I have the chance this summer to do the same for somebody else.

Most likely, it won't even be me that directly profits, anyway. I talked with Hillary about helping me out for the transit. Whether it's her or somebody else, I'm going to be way too busy to attend to everything that will need to be done during the transit. I figure if I order a case of eclipse glasses, my partner can sell them, and pocket whatever money comes in as payment for the help. It might not be much, but it will be a little pocket money. The sales would still benefit me, but indirectly.

The real value of the transit for me is gearing up and gaining new capabilities and experience. Afterward, I'm going to try to go into business hosting private star parties as entertainment. That's where I think I'm going to make my money as an astronomer. At least initially.

[Centaur]

Well put, Paulie. I fully understand. I do hope you eventually profit from your astronomical activities. Clyde Tombaugh had never been to college when he found Pluto on photographs he was assigned to examine. That motivated him to study for an astronomy degree. Perhaps you will do the same, even if it takes years of part-time classes. I’ll bet you would be able to shorten the process by passing proficiency tests.

If you know where you will be on the day of the Venus transit, you might want supply me with the longitude, latitude and altitude. I'd be happy to provide you with one of my transit preview graphics made specifically for that site.

[RobbW]

I applaud your commitment to the 2012 transit, Paulie, and also your generosity! A word of caution though. By selling eclipse glasses for the transit, you may unintentionally be taking on some sort of legal liability. I'm not saying this for sure, but I would definitely look into it if I were you. If you sell someone a pair of glasses, and there is some sort of defect or they use them incorrectly and it causes injury, you could be held liable. I'm not trying to be a party pooper. I'm just saying that our culture is VERY litigious these days!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

What Robb says has truth in it.

The exchange of services/merchandise implies a certain expectation of safety for the money.

And....

If you accept money in exchange for said devices, then it may be considered as a street market kind of thing..and a anal cop may demand a peddlers license.

Things to look into.

[Centaur]

Everyone is providing good business advice. As with all startup businesses, seek counsel from a lawyer and an accountant. If their fees are greater than your expected revenues minus other expenses, then of course abandon the project.

[Paulie pchris00]

Anybody looking for a pair of eclipse glasses at the last minute should go to their local book store. Sky News, the Canadian astronomy magazine, includes a pair in the May/June issue, which I picked up last week at Barnes & Noble. A new bookstore has moved into the old Borders space at the mall in Merrillville, IN, and today I saw two issues of May/June Sky News there. It's worth a look and $7. The issue also has a better feature on the transit than either the June Sky & Telescope or Astronomy.

www.skynews.ca/

Their supply is gone, but here is what they look like.

www.skynews.ca/pages/glasses-eclipse.html

[rcsenar]

I'm a brand new member of this forum...partly because I am looking for eclipse glasses at the last minute. Outside of Sky News magazine, does anyone know where I can pick up a few pairs? I live in Crystal Lake but will be in the Arlington Heights area tomorrow. Any place from O'Hare to Elgin is fine.

Today is Thursday and the Venus Transit is on Tuesday. I can't trust ordering online and receiving shipment in time.

Thanks in advance.

Rob

[RobbW]

Rob, the only place I know for sure that has solar eclipse glasses is the U-46 Planetarium in Elgin, IL. They are selling them for $3/pair for the transit. Although, I don't know if there is anyway to buy from them in advance before the transit or not. They were selling them at the last public planetarium show they did earlier this month. They will be selling them the day of the transit, but that probably doesn't help you unless you're actually coming out to the U-46 Planetarium for their transit show.