A sight that probably no one currently alive will see again, the next is 2117.
Transit of Venus
nasa.gov
Transit of Venus
1–10 of 14 posts
Re: Transit of Venus
#2I watched the transit in 2004 - fascinating. Sadly, pretty much the whole of the UK is forecast to be completely covered with cloud at sunrise, when the transit will be in its final stages, and I probably won't get to see it.
I'll be trying. I can drive up to about 6 hours to get to any point that's got a good chance of seeing through the clouds. So I'm watching the forecast, and hoping it works.
I'd like to have seen both transits.
Re: Transit of Venus
#3I watched the transit in 2004 - fascinating. Sadly, pretty much the whole of the UK is forecast to be completely covered with cloud at sunrise, when the transit will be in its final stages, and I probably won't get to see it. I'll be trying. I can drive up to about 6 hours to get to any point that's got a good chance of seeing through the clouds. So I'm watching the forecast, and hoping it works. I'd like to have see…
Cloud; rain in Birmingham and so it goes, but I'll be up early on Wednesday.
Roughly projected image from 2004 just after second contact - improvised with finder and cardboard early on as I had to attend a Very Important Meeting that day (about what totally forgotten).
http://www.sohcahtoa.org.uk/legacy/blog/images/venus_transit...
Re: Transit of Venus
#4For those wanting to view the transit and not permanently lose their sight, there are a few ways to watch it+. I personally prefer option 6:
1 use of eclipse shades
2 pinhole projectors
3 project a magnified view
4 project a magnified image through a closed-loop device
5 viewed directly when magnified
6 live webcast
Re: Transit of Venus
#5For those wanting to view the transit and not permanently lose their sight, there are a few ways to watch it+. I personally prefer option 6: 1 use of eclipse shades 2 pinhole projectors 3 project a magnified view 4 project a magnified image through a closed-loop device 5 viewed directly when magnified 6 live webcast + http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety
I plan to visit a local planetarium that has nice optics :)
Re: Transit of Venus
#6Has anyone else noticed that a "once in a lifetime" astronomical event happens about every 6 months?
Re: Transit of Venus
#7For those wanting to view the transit and not permanently lose their sight, there are a few ways to watch it+. I personally prefer option 6: 1 use of eclipse shades 2 pinhole projectors 3 project a magnified view 4 project a magnified image through a closed-loop device 5 viewed directly when magnified 6 live webcast + http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety
If you can't find eclipse shades, you can grab some #14 shade welding glass from a local welding supplier - a piece of 4" x 5" shouldn't cost you much more than about $3.
Re: Transit of Venus
#8Has anyone else noticed that a "once in a lifetime" astronomical event happens about every 6 months?
And since an "overnight success" take about ten years, there should be 20 "once in a lifetime" events for every "overnight success".
Re: Transit of Venus
#9Has anyone else noticed that a "once in a lifetime" astronomical event happens about every 6 months?
Well it happens (possibly) twice every lifetime.
The next time after tuesday/wednesday this week will be in 2117.
Re: Transit of Venus
#10Has anyone else noticed that a "once in a lifetime" astronomical event happens about every 6 months?
Improbable things happen pretty often in the universe :)