Venus Transit - A Once In A Lifetime Event For Nanaimo

On Tues, June 5.2012 the planet Venus will pass between us and the sun. The next Venus transit won't happen until December 2117, 105 years from now!

To help people see this once in a lifetime event, the Nanaimo Astronomy Society will have volunteers in Maffeo Sutton Park providing special protective glasses (the same as eclipse glasses) so that they can view the transit safely. In addition, there will be several telescopes with solar filters to allow a close up view.

Venus will start passing across the face of the sun on June 5 at 3:06 PM. Volunteers will be set up from 2:30 PM until dark.

What will you see? You will see a small round black dot slowing moving across the sun. Unlike a total solar eclipse which has the much closer moon passing in front, there won't be any darkness or dimming of the sun.

If you have a telescope with no solar filter, don't look through your telescope at the sun. Instead you can put a piece of paper behind the eyepiece and project the sun's image onto the paper to view it safely.

People are strongly warned not to look at the sun with unfiltered binoculars, telescopes or the naked eye as this can cause permanent eye damage.

Resource links:
http://www.nanaimoastronomy.com/
http://transitofvenus.nl/wp/where-wh...transit-times/