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 On 2012 June 6 there occurs a transit of Venus across the face of the Sun.
This is the second such event of the 21st Century, and the next transit will be in 2117.
Venus transits occur in pairs, and the last transit was on 2004 June 8 which was well seen from around the UK.
The first transit to be seen was predicted by Jeremiah Horrocks, and witnessed by him from Much Hoole in Lancashire, and by colleague William Crabtree from Manchester in 1639.
This June, though, the UK is not well placed to see the transit, with only the later stages potentially visible as the Sun rises.
Please send all your observation reports and images to the Director of the Mercury and Venus section,
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. We will also host a gallery of images made by members of the BAA after the event - if you would like to submit images or video please additionally email these to
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Looking at the Sun is dangerous and can result in serious eye damage or blindness. The danger is NOT because of the transit; it is because it is dangerous to look at the Sun at any time.
The Sun is the brightest object in the sky. In addition to visible light, it sends out huge amounts of invisible infrared and ultraviolet rays which can harm your sight.To view the Sun safely, these rays must be blocked out by special filters.
A transit CAN be observed safely by following the DOs and DON'Ts of the TRANSIT OF VENUS SAFETY CODE but DO supervise children closely at all times.
TRANSIT OF VENUS SAFETY CODE
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DON'T ever look at the Sun without proper eye protection.
DON'T view the Sun through sunglasses of any type (single or multiple pairs) or filters made of black & white or colour photographic film or any combination of photographic filters, crossed polarisers or gelatin filters, CDs, CD-ROMs or smoked glass. These are NOT safe.
DO view the Sun ONLY through special filters made for safe solar viewing, eg aluminised Mylar filters or black polymer filters, identified as suitable for direct viewing of the Sun, bearing the CE mark AND a statement that it conforms to European Community Directive 89/686/EEC or use a welder's glass rated at No 14 or higher. Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
DO check filters for any damage BEFORE use. DON'T use them if they are scuffed, scratched or there are any pinholes in them.
DO place any filter firmly up at your eyes BEFORE looking at the Sun and DON'T remove it until AFTER looking away.
DON'T stare through the special filter for more than 3 minutes at a time trying to locate the planet while it is in transit.
Even with the special filter placed over your eyes, DON'T ever look at the Sun through any optical instrument eg telescope, binoculars or camera. Such devices concentrate the Sun's harmful radiation and will cause severe eye damage in a fraction of a second. Filters identified as suitable for direct viewing of the Sun are NOT safe for use in conjunction with any optical instrument.
If you are not certain that a filter is approved and safe, or you have any other doubts DON'T USE IT
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The path of Venus across the Sun on 2012
June 5–6 for a geocentric observer (times UT) |
The variation in sunrise over the British Isles during the 2012 transit (times UT) |
Local circumstances of the 2012 transit for the UK
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Sunrise |
Egress, int. contact |
Egress, ext. contact |
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UT
h m |
Sun's az
º |
UT
h m s |
Sun's alt
º |
UT
h m s |
Sun's alt
º |
| Belfast |
03 51 |
47 |
04 37 02 |
4 |
04 54 44 |
7 |
| Cardiff |
03 58 |
50 |
04 37 17 |
4 |
04 54 58 |
7 |
| Edinburgh |
03 30 |
45 |
04 37 00 |
6 |
04 54 40 |
9 |
| Greenwich |
03 45 |
50 |
04 37 20 |
6 |
04 55 00 |
8 |
| Lerwick |
02 46 |
37 |
04 36 44 |
10 |
04 54 23 |
11 |
| Liverpool |
03 46 |
48 |
04 37 10 |
5 |
04 54 51 |
8 |
| Penzance |
04 14 |
52 |
04 37 19 |
2 |
04 55 01 |
5 |
Notes:
Times are given in Universal Time (UT). For the time in BST add one hour.
Sun's az is the Sun's azimuth in degrees from North.
Sun's alt is the Sun's altitude in degrees above the horizon
For more detailed circumstances, and circumstances for other locations around the world please consult Peter Macdonald's paper in the Resources section below. |
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When observing the Transit, you need to remember that you are really observing the Sun, and only a very small part of the Sun will be obscured by Venus' disc.
As the Sun will be low on the horizon from the UK, and possibly slightly obscured by clouds it may look tempting to view the Sun directly through a telescope, or use some other unfiltered optical aid. Please DO NOT attempt to do this - this would be highly risky - if the clouds part for even a fraction of a second you could do permanent damage to your eyesight.
If you are at all unsure about safe observing techniques for viewing the Sun, then please DON'T TRY. There will be a number of events around the country where experienced observers will help you - see our Events section below for details of events we have been informed about.
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Read more...
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There will be many viewing events up and down the UK, and worldwide.
If you wish to have your event listed here, please email
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Read more...
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