Space Now!

Venus crosses the Sun

30-05-12

Written by Megan

5th June 2012 will be the last chance in a lifetime to see a rare astronomical event - Venus will be passing between the Sun and us here on Earth. This event is called the 'transit of Venus', and from various points on Earth it will be possible to see the small black disk appear to pass over the face of the Sun.

Here in England it will be a challenging event to witness, as most of the transit occurs before Sunrise, but the very end of the transit will be visible to those dedicated to get out of bed early enough for Sunrise at 4:45am.

The last hour of this transit should be visible from England, and with the next transit of Venus not until the year 2117, this one is well worth the effort to see!

Anyone wishing to observe the transit needs to take proper safety precautions, as you should never look directly at the Sun without safety equipment.