Community Corner
2012 Transit of Venus — How to Watch the Rare Astronomical Event Safely
Sky watchers are advised to never look directly into the sun, so how else are we supposed to view the transit of Venus? These are your options.
Sky watchers are advised to never look directly into the sun and to wear special viewing glasses, such as solar eclipse glasses. Other viewing options include telescopes with special filters and pinhole projects. Those who want to view Venus from the comfort of their desks and sofas can check out the special coverage of Venus’s move on SPACE.com.
Shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday, the planet Venus will begin a west-to-east glide across the face of the sun.
Often referred to as the "Evening Star" or "Morning Star," Venus, the second planet from the sun, is the brightest natural object in the sky after the sun and the moon.
Find out what's happening in Barrowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A "transit" of Venus occurs when the planet passes between Earth and the sun in such a way that earthlings can see Venus's silhouette backlit by the sun's light. A transit of Venus last happened in 2004, but it won't happen again until 2117. And unless you plan to shatter some human longevity records, this is probably your last chance.
The six hour, 40-minute transit will start shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Find out what's happening in Barrowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Subscribe to Barrow Patch’s newsletters, follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
