Follow the transit of Venus

Transit of Venus, 2004 Image by kind permission of NASA

1 June 2012

The transit of Venus will occur for the second time in ten years on 5 and 6 June. We in the UK will be able to see the transit in progress at sunrise on Wednesday 6 June.

Transit of Venus, 2004
Image by Image by kind permission of NASA

The transit of Venus is about to occur for the second time in ten years. We in the UK will be able to see the transit in progress at sunrise on Wednesday 6 June.

The transit of Venus is a relatively rare event in which the planet Venus moves into the line of sight between the Earth and the Sun. From the Earth we can see Venus as a dark disk moving across the bright face of the Sun.

The transit of Venus has been very useful tool in astronomy. For example, in 1639 it was used to calculate the first accurate estimate of the size of the Solar System.

Please see IOP PhysicsWorld, to find out more. The video features Bristol researcher Dr Zoe Leinhardt, who explains how the transit of Venus was used to calculate the distance between the Earth and the Sun.

Further information

You can find out how to view the transit in other countries at Wikipedia.
To find out more about Dr Leinhardt please go to her research page.