Venus's 2012 transit across the sun will let researchers test methods
for observing Earth-like planets light years away. It's an opportunity
that won't be available again until December 2117.
The orbit of Venus is inclined 3.4° with respect to Earth's orbit.
It intersects the ecliptic at two points or nodes that cross the Sun
each year during early June and December.
If Venus happens to pass through inferior conjunction at that time, a
transit will occur.
Although Venus's orbital period is only 224.7 days, its synodic period
(conjunction to conjunction) is 583.9 days.
Due to its inclination, most inferior conjunctions of Venus do not
result in a transit because the planet passes too far above or below the
ecliptic and does not cross the face of the Sun.
Venus transits currently recur at intervals of 8, 105.5, 8 and 121.5
years.
Since the invention of the telescope (1610), there have only been seven
transits as listed below.
Transits of Venus: 1601-2200
Date Universal Separation
Time
1631 Dec 07 05:19 939 "
1639 Dec 04 18:26 524 "
1761 Jun 06 05:19 570 "
1769 Jun 03 22:25 609 "
1874 Dec 09 04:07 830 "
1882 Dec 06 17:06 637 "
2004 Jun 08 08:20 627 "
2012 Jun 06 01:28 553 "
2117 Dec 11 02:48 724 "
2125 Dec 08 16:01 733 "
The 2004 and 2012 transits form a contemporary pair separated by 8 years.
More than a century will elapse before the next pair of transits in 2117 and 2125.
During the 6,000-year period from 2000 BC to AD 4000, a total of 81 transits of Venus occur.
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I got to look at this amasing moment in history, with the right gear of course but it was the most beautiful things i have ever seen in my life time. Im only 15 years of age but still it was a grand experience for me to see this.
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