This year, we had the rare opportunity to observe Venus transiting across the Sun. The planet passed directly between the Sun and Earth and it became visible as a small dot against the solar disk.
The transit lasted 6 hours and 40 minutes, and it won’t happen anytime soon, as the next Transit of Venus will be in December 2117. We are currently gathering photos in the Transit of Venus article on Fotopedia, so please add your best shot if you assisted to the Transit of Venus.
Here is a shot from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. One fun fact is that NASA will take this rare opportunity to calibrate its telescope to have a perfect black (based on the center of Venus surface not exposed to the Sun).
- photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video / Some rights reserved
As this is the case every time you watch the Sun, you should use solar filters (not sunglasses) to protect your eyes from the Sun and enjoy this rare moment.
- photo by Bakar Studios (Barry Lenard) / Some rights reserved
Here is a view from the space of Venus almost completing its pass in front of the Sun.
- photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video / Some rights reserved
See you in the future Venus!
June 10, 2012 at 10:55 pm
I think I have some footage of the Venus’ pre-solar transit during the annular eclipse of May 20th 2012. I didn’t know where the dark spot came from since it didn’t show up in every shot but the scale looks right. Has anyone else found any evidence of this in their eclipse photos?