Upcoming Transit of Venus

[Bob Hegwood]

Hi all...

Researching a tour of Venus, I found that the following will occur shortly.

On June 8th, 2004 we can view a rare occurrence of the transit of Venus. The planet
will pass in directly front of the Sun - between the Earth and the Sun - so that
we should be able to view Venus as a dark spot travelling across the face of the Sun
on that day. Try not to burn your eyes out though.

Take care, Bob

[tony873004]

But it's not visible from the Western USA
Why does it seem like we miss everything? 3/4 of the world will see the transit! But not me unless I travel to Europe or Asia or beyond. But there'll be another one in 8 years that will be visible here

[ElPelado]

1) Where did you get that info about another transit in 8 years?? I know that in 2006 will be a transit of Mercury... but venus....

2) Are you sure you wont be able to see it? Even the final part of the transit?

[Bob Hegwood]

ElPelado,

This according to the Nine Planets website, and information concerning Venus:

...the last one was in 1882, the next one is in 2012 but after than you'll have to wait until 2117.

Take care, Bob

[granthutchison]

1) Where did you get that info about another transit in 8 years?? I know that in 2006 will be a transit of Mercury... but venus....

Venus transits generally occur in pairs separated by eight years, with successive pairs alternating between June and December (for the next couple of millennia, anyway): the current pairing is 8 Jun 2004 and 6 Jun 2012; the next pair is 11 Dec 2117 and 8 Dec 2125.
(I've had the current pair in my mental diary for the last thirty years, as it happens.)

Grant

[tony873004]

(I've had the current pair in my mental diary for the last thirty years, as it happens.)

Grant

lol... me too

Here's a website with visibility maps:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/t ... s0412.html