Your Viewing Guide to the Transit of Venus
4 Jun 2012, 12:54 UTC
Your Viewing Guide to the Transit of Venus: A literal once-in-a-lifetime event occurs this Tuesday, when the silhouette of the planet Venus crosses the visible face of the Sun over several hours. Here’s when and where to see it.
What can you expect to see?
“Venus will take about 6 hours 30 minutes to cross the northern side of the Sun. The line is plotted as seen from Earth’s center. Universal Times (also geocentric) are given for the event’s four contacts: I and II as Venus moves onto the Sun (called ingress), III and IV as it leaves (egress) and for Venus’s deepest encroachment onto the solar disk.” (Credit: Leah Tiscione/Sky & Telescope)
Where will the transit be visible?
“For most of North America, the transit of Venus will begin on the afternoon of June 5th and still be in progress at sunset. Those in western Pacific, eastern Asia, and eastern Australia see the whole show from beginning to end on June 6th (local date). Click here for a larger, worldwide map.” (Credit: Michael Zeiler / Eclipse-maps.com)
How’s the weather going to be?
“Based on statistical averages of daytime clouds during June, the American Southwest, northern Australia, and the Middle ...
