Cautionary note: Do not stare at the sun! Venus covers too little of the solar disk to block the blinding glare. Instead, use some type of projection technique or a solar filter. So, with that warning out of the way...
From NASA Science News:
On June 5th, 2012, Venus will pass across the face of the sun, producing a silhouette that no one alive today will likely see again. Transits of Venus are very rare, coming in pairs separated by more than a hundred years. This June's transit, the bookend of a 2004-2012 pair, won't be repeated until the year 2117. Fortunately, the event is widely visible. Observers on seven continents, even a sliver of Antarctica, will be in position to see it.
The nearly 7-hour transit begins at 3:09 pm Pacific Daylight Time (22:09 UT) on June 5th
Closer to home, here in Kamloops the Observatory at TRU will be open for public viewing of the transit. The main telescope will be fitted with a solar filter for direct observation, and the observing deck (just outside the dome) will be open for viewing. KAS members are welcome to come and set up your telescopes, power is available on the observing deck. As well, a room with a multimedia projector will be located nearby so that webcasts can be viewed.
For those of you that have not visited the TRU Observatory before, it is located on top of the International Building on the north side of campus.
The building is open all day and closes at 9:20 in the evening.
The dome will be open for viewing from 3:30 to 5:30 and then 6:30 to 8:30.
Parking is free after 5:00.
From NASA Science News:
On June 5th, 2012, Venus will pass across the face of the sun, producing a silhouette that no one alive today will likely see again. Transits of Venus are very rare, coming in pairs separated by more than a hundred years. This June's transit, the bookend of a 2004-2012 pair, won't be repeated until the year 2117. Fortunately, the event is widely visible. Observers on seven continents, even a sliver of Antarctica, will be in position to see it.
The nearly 7-hour transit begins at 3:09 pm Pacific Daylight Time (22:09 UT) on June 5th
Closer to home, here in Kamloops the Observatory at TRU will be open for public viewing of the transit. The main telescope will be fitted with a solar filter for direct observation, and the observing deck (just outside the dome) will be open for viewing. KAS members are welcome to come and set up your telescopes, power is available on the observing deck. As well, a room with a multimedia projector will be located nearby so that webcasts can be viewed.
For those of you that have not visited the TRU Observatory before, it is located on top of the International Building on the north side of campus.
The building is open all day and closes at 9:20 in the evening.
The dome will be open for viewing from 3:30 to 5:30 and then 6:30 to 8:30.
Parking is free after 5:00.
The June 8, 2004, transit of Venus photographed by Frans Snik at the Dutch Open Telescope in La Palma, Canary Islands
