Transit of Venus Australia 2012

Post

Subscribe

Wed 06 Jun 2012

This is likely to be the last transit of Venus you will see in your lifetime, with the next transit due to occur in 2117.

Get ready to witness the next Transit of Venus, due to start at 8.16am on 6 June 2012 and ending at 2.44pm. This transit will be visible by Sydneysiders, from start to finish.

While watching these once in a lifetime phenomenon is exciting, they can also cause serious damage to the eyes, so please use specially designed solar glasses which can be purchased from the Sydney Observatory for $5 (and kept for future skyward phenomena).

Transits of Venus are extremely rare. They occur twice, eight years apart and then not for over a century. The last transit in 2004 was the first time a Venus Transit had been visible since 1882. The next one on 6 June 2012 is the last one we're ever likely to witness.



A transit is similar to an eclipse, although the planets which transit appear as a small dark spot crossing the sun, rather than eclipsing it like the moon does. This occurs when Venus the Earth and the Sun are aligned.

Check out this short video for some great graphics and information.



If you wish to buy the solar goggles or learn more about safely viewing the transit. Visit Sydney Observatory website .

If you wish to attend any of the Sydney Observatory's special Transit of Venus events, please visit their website .

#things_to_see
#sydney
#south_west
#outdoor
#natural_attractions
#hobbies
#environment
!date 06/06/2012 -- 06/06/2012
%wnsydney