Transit of Venus
True Science or Dangerous Jinx?
Welcome
to TransitofVenus.com
Transits
of Venus are both the source of legend and one of astronomyÕs most rare
phenomena. On June 8, 2004, we have the chance to see the first Venus Transit
in 122 years. On this website, we are putting together access to a variety of
Transit of Venus resources, information, history and lore.
In
1874, astronomer Richard A. Proctor eloquently described the anticipation of
the upcoming 2004 and 2012 Transits of Venus as follows, "We cannot doubt
that when the transits of 2004 and 2012 are approaching, astronomers will look
back with interest on the operations conducted during the present
'transit-season'...I think the astronomers of the first years of the
twenty-first century, looking back over the long transitless period which will
then have passed, will understand the anxiety of the astronomers in our own
time to utilize to the full whatever opportunities the coming transits may
afford."
Proctor
accurately drew the diagrams below to show the paths of Venus across the Sun in
the transits of the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 21st
centuries:
Proctor
also drew the following diagrams which correctly predict the area of visibility
for the 2004 Transit of Venus.
Unfortunately
many expeditions to view the 18th and 19th century transits
were ill-fated and resulted in calamity.
Don't let the Transit of Venus be a jinx for you-make sure you have
appropriate eye protection or viewing equipment. Failure to use proper eye protection and filters can lead
to permanent eye damage and even blindness. Here are some of the best
sites to help you with proper solar viewing of all types:
Fred
EspenakÕs Solar Eye Safety:
http://www.mreclipse.com/Totality/TotalityCh11.html
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/safety.html
San
FranciscoÕs Exploratorium – How to View an Eclipse (or Transit): This is one of the best descriptions of
how to build a safe pinhole projector that I have seen (I have built more than
a dozen of these):
http://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/how.html
Transit
of Venus.org Safety:
http://www.transitofvenus.org/safety.htm
If
you are looking for more information on the Transit of Venus, here are the best
starting points:
Fred
EspenakÕs Predictions for the Transit of Venus 2004:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/transit/TV2004.html
NASAÕs
Sun-Earth Day on the Transit of Venus:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/sunearthday/2004/index_vthome.htm
The
Smithsonian InstitutionÕs Chasing Venus: Observing the Transits of Venus, 1631-2004 exhibition:
http://www.sil.si.edu/exhibitions/chasing-venus/
Chuck
BueterÕs Comprehensive Transit of Venus site:
http://www.transitofvenus.org/index.html
Glenn
Schenider has put together some great animations of the 2004 Transit of Venus
at (check out #8):
http://nicmosis.as.arizona.edu:8000/ECLIPSE_WEB/TRANSIT_04/TRANSIT_2004.html
Jay Pasachoff has links
to various worldwide transit projects and antique photographs of previous
transits.
http://www.transitofvenus.info
IOTA Š The International Occultation Timing Association put together information on exact circumstances for many locations:
http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/2004venus/2004venus.htm
A
great resource list (compiled by Joanne and Patrick Poitevin) can be found at:
http://solareclipsewebpages.users.btopenworld.com/SELinks_files/SELinksNext.html
And
if you are interested in Solar Eclipses, make sure you join the Solar Eclipse
Mailing List (SEML) that Joanne and Patrick run:
http://solareclipsewebpages.users.btopenworld.com/SEML_files/SEML.html
Resources
for the Transit of Venus 2004 in Mansfield, PA
TopoZone
Maps:
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4634505.00008334&e=331042.999976269&datum=nad83
ClearSky Clock for Corning,
NY
http://www.transitofvenus.com
Copyright (c) 2004 Jay
Friedland All Rights Reserved.
j-a-y-a-t-t-r-a-n-s-i-t-o-f-v-e-n-u-s-d-o-t-c-o-m