You can get a map of when the transit will be visible in your location. Image: transitofvenus.nl
On Tuesday, June 5, observers around the world will be able to watch the planet Venus as it crosses between Earth and the Sun. Here on Earth, the Transit of Venus will look like a tiny black dot moving in an arc across the upper right hand corner of the disc of the sun.
Of course, you can’t look directly at the sun without risking eye damage. So if you haven’t already got some eclipse glasses handy from last month’s solar eclipse, or a special solar filter for your telescope, you can try the same pinhole projection technique Erik Wecks recommended for May’s eclipse. You can also try the same kind of projection technique with a telescope or binoculars.
In North America, the transit should start around 6 p.m. EDT and be visible until sunset. A great website for information on this rare event — which won’t occur again in this century — is transitofvenus.org. You can also watch the transit live from the SLOOH space camera.
And for a neat visual key that shows when the transit will be visible from your location, go to transitofvenus.nl.
