New Zealand Local Weather Forum

Climate and Science => Space, Science and Nature => Topic started by: Deano on April 11, 2012, 04:04:49 PM

Title: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Deano on April 11, 2012, 04:04:49 PM
On the 6th of June this year, we will have the chance to view the last Transit of Venus in our lifetime.
The next transit after this one will be in December 2117 and December 2125 - so this is the last chance to see a transit of Venus in our lifetimes!
The last transit in the current cycle was in June 2004, but before that the last transit was in December 1874 and December 1882.
A Transit of Venus across the Sun occurs when the orbit of Venus takes it directly between the Earth and the Sun, obscuring a small portion of the Sun's disc. During the transit, Venus appears as a small black disc moving across the sun, usually taking several hours.
Here is the link to the authors article.http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-658-0-0-1-0.html (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-658-0-0-1-0.html)

IceInSpace is "THE" premier Amateur Astronomy website in the Southern Hemisphere.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/index.php (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/index.php)
The wealth of information stored here about all types of astronomy is an excellent resource for all.
Take a moment to view some of the user gallery photos of either Solar System or Deep Sky or Terrestrial objects.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11)

Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Suezy on April 11, 2012, 05:10:34 PM
Thanks for that and hope we are up and going by then.
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Deano on April 11, 2012, 05:34:23 PM
Thanks for that Suezy,
I can appreciate what lies ahead for you!
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Suezy on April 11, 2012, 09:09:50 PM
Hard yakka.  But I am the supervisor - too old for a shovel now.
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Stefan on April 29, 2012, 11:41:19 AM
I got the day off work for the transit, now all I have to hope for is fine weather.
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Deano on June 02, 2012, 08:12:55 AM
If the weather does not work out on the day, there are on-line live viewing websites.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/Where-to-See-the-Transit-of-Venus-Online-154213475.html (http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/Where-to-See-the-Transit-of-Venus-Online-154213475.html)

I don't have any solar safe viewing filters, so I will be viewing on-line.
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Weather Display on June 02, 2012, 06:14:13 PM
not looking good weather wise for wednesday
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Deano on June 02, 2012, 07:26:01 PM
Murphys Law!
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Stefan on June 03, 2012, 09:49:03 AM
Deano, you can just watch the transit by projecting the sun onto a piece of card :)
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: JennyLeez on June 05, 2012, 05:24:12 PM
Deano do we in NZ have a time for this, I see our Calendar has 10.15am to 1.39pm. It this correct.  Following the above links, the time is not clear.
Thanks
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Deano on June 05, 2012, 05:35:13 PM
Yes Jenny, NZ time. My astronomy software worked it all out for me.
Present cloudmass is not looking good. Online view me thinks.
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Weather Display on June 05, 2012, 05:59:31 PM
there should be fine intervals for the upper NI tomorrow, with the NW wind flow
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: David on June 06, 2012, 10:19:51 AM
Plenty of blue sky for Auckland now - some will be very pleased!  :)
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: ato2 on June 06, 2012, 10:27:14 AM
Yes, the amount of blue sky is increasing
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Deano on June 06, 2012, 04:13:19 PM
Just in case you didn't get your viewing equipment in time, or other weather factors hindered you, here are some pics from space.com showing all
(http://i.space.com/images/i/18142/i02/venus-transit-2012-sdo-1.jpg)
More pictures at space.com
http://www.space.com/15973-venus-transit-pictures-2012-gallery.html (http://www.space.com/15973-venus-transit-pictures-2012-gallery.html)
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: bett on June 06, 2012, 08:40:41 PM
Great viewing on Norfolk Island today for Transit of Venus. started just before 10am and finished just before 4pm. Clouds around a little at first then great in the middle of day and finished with some clouds and a shower of rain. We need a filter for camera so we can take photos. Pleased we had a hand solar  filter to look through. It was fantastic.
Title: Re: Upcoming Transit of Venus
Post by: Weather Display on June 07, 2012, 01:56:02 PM
by the the time I got my act together and could finally see the sun....I missed it by 5 minutes....