On June 8, 2004, an event that happens only twice in a person’s lifetime occurred in the sky – the Transit of Venus. During a Transit of Venus, the planet Venus passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, appearing as a small black dot on the Sun’s surface.

The Transit of Venus is a rare celestial event, occurring in pairs eight years apart, and then not happening again for over a century. The 2004 Transit of Venus was the last one in our lifetimes, as the next one won’t happen until December 10-11, 2117.

Observing the Transit of Venus is a great way to observe the geometry of the solar system. Astronomers can use the precise timing of the Transit to measure the size of the solar system and calculate the distance between the Earth and Sun.

The Transit of Venus can be seen with the naked eye, if you take the proper precautions to protect your vision. It is not safe to look directly at the Sun without a proper filter. However, with a telescope and a solar filter, it is possible to observe the Venus Transit safely.

The Transit of Venus is a unique event that won’t be seen again for well over a century. For those who were able to witness it in 2004, it was an unforgettable experience.

Gear:

• Celestron C14 + Mylar filter
• Nikon F80 + Nikon COOLSCAN V ED
• Fuji Provia 100 and Kodak T-MAX 3200

Repercusión Mediática

The local newspaper El Día de Córdoba did an article about the phenomenon and how a group of fans got together to observe it.