VB reader David Craddock has been in touch about an event happening next week that seems to have been overshadowed by the Jubilee celebrations.
As North Americans settle down to their evening meal on Tuesday evening next week, Venus will be passing directly between the Earth and the Sun.
David tells us, “These Venus eclipses (transits) are extremely rare astronomical phenomena and only six such events have occurred since the invention of the telescope.
“They occur in 243 year patterns with a pair of them eight years apart and the last transit of 2004 was visible for six hours.”
Someone tell the BBC
David is surprised that not more is being made of the phenomena.
He said, “On the BBC news today we have the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and NASA saying our universe will hit another in four billion years, but no mention at all that our Sun is to be eclipsed by Venus – right over the top of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee! Have the astronomers have forgotten to tell the BBC?”
According to the experts, here in the UK you can see the eclipse take place around sunrise on Wednesday 6th June.
David warns anyone planning to view the eclipse that eye protection is essential.
For those with an interest in astronomy, read more information about the Transit of Venus here or on the NASA site.
Image: NASA Goddard under CC BY 2.0
