Venus To Transit the Sun In June, Not Again Until 2117

revealingheart writes with this quote from ScienceDaily: "On 5 and 6 June this year, millions of people around the world will be able to see Venus pass across the face of the Sun in what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It will take Venus about six hours to complete its transit, appearing as a small black dot on the Sun's surface, in an event that will not happen again until 2117. ...Transits of Venus occur only on the very rare occasions when Venus and Earth are in a line with the Sun. At other times Venus passes below or above the Sun because the two orbits are at a slight angle to each other. Transits occur in pairs separated by eight years, with the gap between pairs of transits alternating between 105.5 and 121.5 years — the last transit was in 2004." You can check this chart to see whether it'll be visible at your location, and when you should look. You'll need a safe way to watch unless you are Vulcan. And yes, there's even a phone app to help you out.

Comments

Is it just me...

[Anonymous Coward]

Or is there one of these once in a lifetime events about once a year?

Re:Is it just me...

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

No, you're just really old.

Re:Is it just me...

[Relic of the Future]

No, but that one "Mars at closest approach!" email has been chaining around for a decade. (So remember people, make it clear that it's June 5th 2012 when you tell your Fwd: happy relatives and friends.)

But seriously, the transit of Venus IS a big deal. The first post-enlightenment ToV was how we were able to determine the size of an AU, making it the first step in the chain to understanding the size of everything else in the universe beyond the Earth.

More than once

[SmlFreshwaterBuffalo]

...in what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience

Transits occur in pairs...the last transit was in 2004.

So, what you're saying is it could be a twice-in-a-lifetime experience for some?

Re:More than once

[rrohbeck]

Well it's 2012. Maybe the Mayans were about a half year off.

Re:More than once

[Anonymous Coward]

Let me make sure I've got this right. You spend time and money on observing Venus transit the sun and expected more than 'Just small circle passing by on sun's surface.' What exactly did you think was going to happen? Really I must know what you thought it was going to look like it.

Re:More than once

[janeil]

Well, opinions differ. I watched that last transit on a cheapo telescope with a sun filter and would rank it very high as an astronomical experience. The perfect circle of venus moving across the sun, the speed of movement, just knowing what you were looking at was happening RIGHT NOW, blew me away. But I paid nothing, it was visible where I live. I wouldn't travel halfway across the world for a total eclipse, probably wouldn't do so to see another transit of venus, either. So, it's pretty cool, if you can watch it from your backyard.

Probably THE best way to "watch"...

[Anonymous Coward]

The Sun Today - Atmospheric Imaging Assembly

Most likely the best view: 4500k - Visible Light

Images are updated every 30 minutes.

Those wanting to photograph without damaging cam

[tanveer1979]

400mm telephotos are best, but your camera will damage if you try to do direct photography.
So go to ebay.com, and get a cheap 900nm+ IR filter. These filters are so dark, that even bright sun is a pale object through them.
These cost 20$ for a 77mm filter.

With filter on, point your cam at sun, shoot with 1/1000 or faster and then quickly point camera away.

Remember, do not keep camera pointed at the sun continously.

I did a solar eclipse with 300mm lens.
Here are the pics
http://tanveer.smugmug.com/Nature/Solar-Eclipse-July-22/8996323_xLmdqp#!i=598157547&k=7ZhhD.

you can also stack two filters, but then you would need a shutter speed of 1/500 or slower.