TRANSIT OF VENUS 2004 VISIBLE IN TT

On Tuesday, June 8, for the first time since 1882, Venus will pass directly between Earth and the Sun. The planet’s black silhouette against the sun will be visible from Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and eastern parts of the Americas. In Trinidad, this phenomenon will be visible from sunrise at 6.43 am until the transit ends at 7.26 am. Never look at the Sun directly without eye protection. The early morning rising Sun,  although reddened and dimmed by clouds, is not safe to look at.  Even a Sun low on the horizon can cause eye damage.

For a total time of six hours, from different parts on Earth, the planet Venus’ black silhouette will move slowly across our sun. No living person today has ever seen the transit of Venus. Although Venus passes between Earth and the Sun, a transit of Venus is not like a solar eclipse. The Sun won’t be blocked out, or even noticeably dimmed.  The disk of Venus covers only 0.1 percent of the Sun. If you do attempt to observe this phenomena, try looking through a safe solar filter, for example, #13 or #14 welder’s glass or special “eclipse glasses” designed for solar viewing.

Do not use stacked sunglasses, metallised candy wrappers or compact disks — these are unsafe filters. Seen through a good filter, the Sun would look like a glowing disk, about the size of the Moon, with a small black speck — Venus  — as it transits across the surface of the Sun. No attempt should be made to observe this phenomenon through a telescope or binoculars unless you have professional advice on how to do it or are an experienced observer of solar phenomena.