This is what you will see in June Venus transits the Sun photo

[Ichingcarpenter]

Much of the world can witness the 2012 transit of Venus. The date depends on what side of the International Dateline you will be observing. Observers in North America will see the transit in the evening on June 5, 2012, through sunset, so you want to have a clear western horizon.

This photo was taken in 2004 by David Cortner. The next one will be on June 6th this year and then it wont happen again until 2117.

Transits of Venus tend to occur in pairs separated by 8 years, but each pair are over 100 years apart.

The Mayans put a big religious deal on Venus and its transits and it part on the 2012



2012 June 5-6 Eye Safety
Safe Viewing Techniques
To observe the transit of Venus directly you must protect your eyes at all times with proper solar filters. However, do not let the requisite warnings scare you away from witnessing this rare spectacle. You can experience the transit of Venus safely, provided you use proper eye protection.

[krispos42]

1. I've already got my solar filters

One for my spotting scope, one for my little Galileo telescope, and a pair for my binoculars!

[pokerfan]

2. Time to get those filters now

The 2004 transit at 90 minute intervals

Viewing the Transit & Eye Safety by B. Ralph Chou, MSc, OD, Associate Professor, School of Optometry, University of Waterloo

Exposure of the retina to intense visible light causes damage to its light-sensitive rod and cone cells. The light triggers a series of complex chemical reactions within the cells which damages their ability to respond to a visual stimulus, and in extreme cases, can destroy them. The result is a loss of visual function, which may be either temporary or permanent depending on the severity of the damage. When a person looks repeatedly, or for a long time, at the Sun without proper eye protection, this photochemical retinal damage may be accompanied by a thermal injury—the high level of visible and near-infrared radiation causes heating that literally cooks the exposed tissue. This thermal injury or photocoagulation destroys the rods and cones, creating a small blind area. The danger to vision is significant because photic retinal injuries occur without any feeling of pain (the retina has no pain receptors), and the visual effects do not become apparent for at least several hours after the damage is done (Pitts 1993). Viewing the Sun through binoculars, a telescope, or other optical devices without proper protective filters can result in immediate thermal retinal injury because of the high irradiance level in the magnified image.

[Denninmi]

3. Ah, yes, a "clear Western horizon"

Or, for that matter, any "clear" sky in Michigan whenever a celestial event happens. Good luck with that. The odds that it will be heavily overcast are directly proportional to the desire to see the event. Or, to put it much simpler terms, it's always f'ing cloudy whenever something interesting is going on in the sky.

[ninehippies]

4. wow

Thanks for posting that. My kids and I had been watching Mars and Venus in the western sky this spring and I told them of the 'transit of Venus.' Now I know what to look for/expect.

[byronius]

5. Officially the coolest post of the day.

That is amazing.