Transit of Venus 2012

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Wed 06 Jun 2012

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June 6th, 2012 marks the Transit of Venus to the sun. Venus will pass directly between Earth and the sun and will appear as a small black dot between 8.15am AEST and 2.30pm AEST, reaching its mid point at 11.30am AEST.

The Transit of Venus to the sun is such a rare astronomical event it will not occur again until 2117, so this really will be a once in a lifetime experience.The best position to view the Transit in the world will be the Western Pacific Rim, including North Eastern Australia. A map of best locations in the world can be seen here. It is important when viewing the sun to protect your eyes - eclipse glasses can be purchased here . Cruise ships are offering Transit of Venus cruises especially to view the event.

The Transit of Venus is such an important event that in 1769, Captain James Cook was appointed by The Royal Society to travel to Tahiti to time the Transit of Venus. It was upon his return journey that he "discovered" Terra Australis.

In the 21st Century, Transit of Venus Project is utilizing modern technology to time the transit. The amazing news is that Astronomers Without Borders are calling for volunteers to participate in a global experiment to measure the solar system - they need you to download the free app , take a photo of Venus at its mid point on June 6th, 2012, and upload your contribution to science.

So why not make the most of this rare event and maybe even make your own modern day contribution to measuring our solar system?

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!date 06/06/2012 -- 06/06/2012
%wnbrisbane