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Venus Transits the Sun (WDBJ7 - First Alert Weather / June 4, 2012) |
It's your last chance to see Venus "transit" the Sun. For those not astronomy savvy, the planet Venus will go between the earth and the Sun Tuesday evening. It's something that won't happen again until 2117.
Transits of Venus occur in pairs eight years apart separated by either 105.5 years or 121.5 years.
The last Venus transit occurred in 2004, and the next pair won't happen until 2117 and 2125.
According to NASA, there have been only seven transits of Venus since the invention of the telescope in 1610. Those occurred in 1631, 1639, 1761, 1769, 1874, 1882 and 2004.
HOW TO SEE IT
You should NEVER look at the sun without protective glasses and NEVER point your regular telescope at the sun. It takes special telescopes and filters to view the transit. You can also use your solar eclipse glasses.
RESOURCES FROM NASA
Live Webcast from Mauna Kea, Hawaii
On June 5, 2012, we will air a live 'remote' webcast from a mountainside Visitors Station site near the observatories in Hilo, Hawaii. This location will give a wonderful view of the entire transit with little chance of cloud cover to a worldwide audience.
Safe Viewing Techniques
You can experience the transit of Venus safely, but it is vital that you protect your eyes at all times with the proper solar filters.
