Venus To Transit the Sun In June, Not Again Until 2117 143
revealingheart writes with this quote from ScienceDaily:
"On 5 and 6 June this year, millions of people around the world will be able to see Venus pass across the face of the Sun in what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It will take Venus about six hours to complete its transit, appearing as a small black dot on the Sun's surface, in an event that will not happen again until 2117. ...Transits of Venus occur only on the very rare occasions when Venus and Earth are in a line with the Sun. At other times Venus passes below or above the Sun because the two orbits are at a slight angle to each other. Transits occur in pairs separated by eight years, with the gap between pairs of transits alternating between 105.5 and 121.5 years — the last transit was in 2004."
You can check this chart to see whether it'll be visible at your location, and when you should look. You'll need a safe way to watch unless you are Vulcan. And yes, there's even a phone app to help you out.
Is it just me... (Score:4, Funny)
Or is there one of these once in a lifetime events about once a year?
Re:Is it just me... (Score:5, Funny)
No, you're just really old.
Re:More than once (Score:5, Funny)
Well it's 2012. Maybe the Mayans were about a half year off.
Re:More than once (Score:5, Funny)
Re:More than once (Score:4, Funny)
OK, a welder's hood can be pricey. But you can buy the glass for less than $10.
Re:Is it just me... (Score:3, Funny)
Better yet, this exact once in a lifetime event happened a scant 8 years ago... So those of you over the age of 8 might be witnessing a twice in a lifetime event.
Re:More than once (Score:3, Funny)
What about if you look at the sun while masturbating?
Re:Is it just me... (Score:3, Funny)
But probably only be lucid to one of them
Re:Also... (Score:4, Funny)
Problem is, if you guys can see each other you're WAY out of reach for a handshake.
Re:Actually, ... (Score:4, Funny)
Good idea. I mean, as a geek, dates are probably rarer than Venus transits.