Transit of Venus5 June 2012

A Rare Event• Transits of Venus were important events in

the history of astronomy

• They occur in pairs 8 years apart, separated by about 120 years

• First observed in 1639 from England International collaboration to measure the distance to the Sun in 1761 & 1769 . Method suggested by Halley.

• The last pair occurred in 1874 & 1882. Our lifetime: June 2004 & June 2012. None again until 2117 & 2125

Visibility from Earth

TRANSIT STARTS AT 6:03-6:21pm, continues untilSUNSET AT 8:49pm (mid transit 9:29pm)

Timing

Observing Safely• Like any eclipse DO NOT look directly at the

sun either by eye or with optics

• #14 Welding goggles or some approved astronomical setup operated by an experienced observer

More information: • TransitofVenus.org

• eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov

• Oneminuteastronomer.com