What is a transit of Venus?
Venus Transit
When Venus
passes directly between earth and the sun, we see the distant planet as a
small dot gliding slowly across the face of the sun. Historically,
this rare alignment is how we measured the size of our solar system.
The view is like a front row seat to the transit method, by which we now
find planets around distant stars.
When is it?
Observers in North America see Venus on
June 5 around 6:04 p.m. EDT until sunset. The entire transit lasts over
six hours. This will be the last transit of Venus to occur in your
lifetime. Next chance: December 2117.
Venus glides across the sun's face during its previous transit, seen from Flagler Beach Pier in Florida.
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