Transit of Venus | Hacker News Reader

Transit of Venus

nasa.gov

64 pointssol1_sc13 comments

A sight that probably no one currently alive will see again, the next is 2117.

I watched the transit in 2004 - fascinating. Sadly, pretty much the whole of the UK is forecast to be completely covered with cloud at sunrise, when the transit will be in its final stages, and I probably won't get to see it.

I'll be trying. I can drive up to about 6 hours to get to any point that's got a good chance of seeing through the clouds. So I'm watching the forecast, and hoping it works.

I'd like to have seen both transits.

Cloud; rain in Birmingham and so it goes, but I'll be up early on Wednesday.

Roughly projected image from 2004 just after second contact - improvised with finder and cardboard early on as I had to attend a Very Important Meeting that day (about what totally forgotten).

http://www.sohcahtoa.org.uk/legacy/blog/images/venus_transit...

Has anyone else noticed that a "once in a lifetime" astronomical event happens about every 6 months?

And since an "overnight success" take about ten years, there should be 20 "once in a lifetime" events for every "overnight success".

Well it happens (possibly) twice every lifetime. The next time after tuesday/wednesday this week will be in 2117.

Improbable things happen pretty often in the universe :)

The sheer scale of the universe does funny things with probability.

Every week you can once (or less) in a lifetime lottery numbers, too.

Each type is on a different schedule.

I tried to figure out when to see this where I am, and found the easiest way was to install Stellarium and then fast forward in time to see how the pass happens.

For those wanting to view the transit and not permanently lose their sight, there are a few ways to watch it+. I personally prefer option 6:

1 use of eclipse shades

2 pinhole projectors

3 project a magnified view

4 project a magnified image through a closed-loop device

5 viewed directly when magnified

6 live webcast

+ http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012/eye-safety

I plan to visit a local planetarium that has nice optics :)

If you can't find eclipse shades, you can grab some #14 shade welding glass from a local welding supplier - a piece of 4" x 5" shouldn't cost you much more than about $3.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com