On June 5, skywatchers around the world will be treated to a rare astronomical event when Venus dances across the solar disk for the last time this century.
The so-called transit of Venus is a much-anticipated event that has attracted wide interest around the globe. To prepare for the historic spectacle, here are some frequently
asked questions (and answers) on the rare celestial sight
What is the transit of Venus?
When Venus crosses in front of the sun, astronomers refer to this as a "transit." As the planet moves along its orbital path, it will travel across the solar disk, making it appear to observers on Earth as a small black blemish on the face of the sun.
Due to the tilt of the planet's orbit, transits of Venus are some of the rarest astronomical sights because they only occur in pairs eight years apart, once every 100 years or so. The last Venus transit occurred on June 8, 2004, and the next one will not be visible again until the year 2117, more than 100 years from now.
Prior to 2004, the last pair of Venus transits took place in 1881 and 1889.
A rare skywatching event will occur on June 5, 2012, when Venus crosses in front of the sun. Here are some frequently asked questions about the so-called transit of Venus.
“Samo srcem čovjek može vidjeti ispravno; bitno je očima nevidljivo.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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