Venus Crosses Sun For Last Time Till 2117

http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16241465

last chance to see this until 2117

I saw the transit in 2004 and it is well worth a look if you have so strong filters. Luckily I had some left over from the 97 eclipse.
It really puts into perspective how big the sun is not much smaller than erath and it is only a small speck crossing the disk of the sun.

It starts at just after 11am today and goes on for about 6½hours, so if you have a glimpse of the sun you really should get out an have a look.
If you have a video camera, dial down the sensitivity to minimum and use that, other wise make sure you use a very strong sun filter or you may burn out your retina's.

I will pop up on the roof and take some video if I can and post it later.

I'll move this thread to natural history later

OK it has started now so I am off to the roof to have a look

no its too high in the sky to get anything lined up at the moment.
I will wait for late afternoon when the sun is lower and I can actually sit behind the tripod

well I should have rad that more carefully, it starts at 11.09PM so you will have to be up early to see it.
I am not sure if I can drag myself out of bed at before 7:40 in the morning but I will try.


I did get a few shots of the sun today though

Horizon's showing it live tonight evidently, at 9pm on BBC2.

Beginning of the "End of Days" innit? Come December 21st and pouff!!!!!!!!! We're all snuffed out without so much as a "goodbye."

Tess wrote:Horizon's showing it live tonight evidently, at 9pm on BBC2.

Live, it don't start until 11:09pm

I should just be able to catch the tail end if I get up early. I have until around 7:30am to catch it. IF I can see it from the balcony I might get it, I am not sure if I can drag myself down to the beach

here's one I took in 2004




venus is the black dot at about 4o'clock

venus is only slightly smaller than the earth.
the sun is really big

here's some video of the 2004 transit



No living humans had ever seen this before from the planet

I got up early as well but there were clouds on the horizon and by the time the sun appeared it was over





but at least I saw a nice sunrise

Ah well, I'll catch it next time. :cyclops:

IlonaSong wrote:Ah well, I'll catch it next time. :cyclops:

well your young un's kids may see it.

Flap Meister wrote:

well your young un's kids may see it.

My young un's kids may be on another planet! However, they have already found immortal cells (only trouble is they are cancer cells) so serious longevity is not beyond possibility.