Transit of Venus

10th December 2117. It’s certain I will be long dead. Bar a major medical breakthrough the chances are not good that a man in his mid thirties who has a deep and meaningful relationship with the bacon sarnie will live … Continue reading →

10th December 2117.
It’s certain I will be long dead. Bar a major medical breakthrough the chances are not good that a man in his mid thirties who has a deep and meaningful relationship with the bacon sarnie will live that long. My grandchildren will be retired, my great-grandchildren should be well into middle age. Maybe they will be looking through an old family album and looking at some bloke “who I think is your great-great-grandfather” looking through a really ancient looking telescope, a photo dated 6th June 2012.
The last Transit of Venus 2004
10th December 2117 and 6th June 2012.
Two dates linked by a rare astronomical event. One so rare that it has happened only seven times since the telescope was invented. For that matter it has only happened 25 times since the Romans were throwing their weight around in Britain.
Why so rare? On the face of it it you would think ...