4 ms·

Transit of Venus

64 points by sol1_sc 14y ago

A sight that probably no one currently alive will see again, the next is 2117.

ColinWright 14y ago
I 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.
- keithpeter 14y ago
  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.jpg http://www.sohcahtoa.org.uk/legacy/blog/images/venus_transit...
sparknlaunch 14y ago
For 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 http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety
- sp332 14y ago
  I plan to visit a local planetarium that has nice optics :)
- rjsamson 14y ago
  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.
asmithmd1 14y ago
Has anyone else noticed that a "once in a lifetime" astronomical event happens about every 6 months?
- mhb 14y ago
  And since an "overnight success" take about ten years, there should be 20 "once in a lifetime" events for every "overnight success".
- superrad 14y ago
  Well it happens (possibly) twice every lifetime. The next time after tuesday/wednesday this week will be in 2117.
- sp332 14y ago
  Improbable things happen pretty often in the universe :)
  - wmeredith 14y ago
    The sheer scale of the universe does funny things with probability.
- eru 14y ago
  Every week you can once (or less) in a lifetime lottery numbers, too.
- mixmastamyk 14y ago
  Each type is on a different schedule.
bemmu 14y ago
I tried to figure out when to see this where I am, and found the easiest way was to install Stellarium and then fast forward in time to see how the pass happens.

64 points by sol1_sc 14y ago

A sight that probably no one currently alive will see again, the next is 2117.

I 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.

keithpeter 14y ago
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.jpg http://www.sohcahtoa.org.uk/legacy/blog/images/venus_transit...

sparknlaunch 14y ago

For 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 http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety

sp332 14y ago
I plan to visit a local planetarium that has nice optics :)
rjsamson 14y ago
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.

asmithmd1 14y ago

Has anyone else noticed that a "once in a lifetime" astronomical event happens about every 6 months?

mhb 14y ago
And since an "overnight success" take about ten years, there should be 20 "once in a lifetime" events for every "overnight success".
superrad 14y ago
Well it happens (possibly) twice every lifetime. The next time after tuesday/wednesday this week will be in 2117.
sp332 14y ago
Improbable things happen pretty often in the universe :)
- wmeredith 14y ago
  The sheer scale of the universe does funny things with probability.
eru 14y ago
Every week you can once (or less) in a lifetime lottery numbers, too.
mixmastamyk 14y ago
Each type is on a different schedule.

bemmu 14y ago

I tried to figure out when to see this where I am, and found the easiest way was to install Stellarium and then fast forward in time to see how the pass happens.