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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Venus Day - June 6

Venus Day - June 6Venus is going on a date with the sun on June 6. It is a rare astronomical event that will happen again only after another 105 years, on December 11, 2117!

This is a once in a life time event where Venus, the second planet from the sun and earth's neighbor, will transit across the solar disc early tomorrow. it will last for about five hours 40 minutes and will be visible from anywhere in India starting at around 3.45 a.m., it reaches a mid position by 7 a.m. and ends by 10.15 a.m. It is a rare planetary alignment and is a must see for all you crazy amateur astronomers.


Important instructions:

Looking directly at the sun through any optical instrument can cause permanent blindness!

The transit can be viewed without using a telescope. However protect your eyes with dark sun-viewing goggles, extremely dark Glare Glasses or a welder's glass (Size 14 at least)
Venus Day - June 6
You can also use an old X ray to view the phenomenon and placing the film / welding glasses in front of a pair of binoculars will help you get a close up without damaging your eyes.

Through a telescope the Sun should be viewed either by using a full aperture filter or by projection method on to a white board or paper

Venus will appear as a tiny dot on the surface of the sun (as shown in the pictures)

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