Venus Transit 2012!
Join volunteers from the Department of Astronomy, the UMD Observatory, and local clubs as we
Observe the Transit of Venus!
Last chance until 2117!
WEATHER3:45pm -- We are currently a GO! Yes, it is pretty cloudy, but we have the equipment setup and we're ready. So if it clears up and we get a glimpse, we'll be ready! If we get some spot showers, we have tarps. |
WHO: Everyone is invited! This event is open to students, faculty, staff and the general public!
WHAT: Observing the Transit of Venus (Venus crosses the disk of the Sun)
WHERE: roof of Stadium Dr. Garage
WHEN: Tues 5 June 2012, 5-10:30pm
WHY: Rare event, next one will be in 2117!
HOW: Because we are observing the Sun, safe filters must be used. In addition, Venus is not big and will be difficult to see without the use of telescopes. We will have a number of telescopes with proper solar filters as well as special solar glasses so that everyone can safely observe the event!
What to bring?!
- WATER!
- family
- WATER!
- friends
- WATER!
- camera(s)
- WATER!
- hat with brim
- WATER!
- lawn chair, towel or blanket to sit on
- WATER!
- If you have your own telescope, you may bring it. We will stay after sunset to observe the night sky if we can.
- bug repellant (please walk away from the crowd and telescopes and preferably downwind before applying spray type repellents)
This event is in the later afternoon in early June. It will be hot. Please bring your own water bottles and ice for staying cool. Although the observing is on the top level, you can retreat to one of the lower levels to get into shade.
Stadium Dr. Garage
This garage has two entrances -- one on each end. Spiral up to the top levels. Normally you would be able to cross from one end of the garage to the other end by going across the topmost level, but we will have a portion of the top level blocked off for telescopes and people.
View Transit of Venus @ UMD in a larger map
Other Transit of Venus programs in the region
- NASA Goddard Visitor's Center, flier
- Montgomery College Observatory
- Montgomery College Planetarium
- Howard Astronomical League
- Chevy Chase Community Center 5-8:30pm (Chevy Chase Community Center and C. C. Branch Library courtyard)
- Shenandoah National Park
- Friends of Arlington Planetarium
- Sun-Earth Day Transit of Venus event locations map (Note that they shut down submissions on or about Tuesday 29 May so there are many other locations holding events that are not shown on that map. But it's still a good place to start...)
Websites of interest
- Sun-Earth Day, all encompassing site -- history, activities, how to participate
- SpacePlace
- Transit of Venus has some neat applets for showing what is going on
- F. Espenak (Mr. Eclipse)
- Transit of Venus, history, activities
- Transit of Venus, history, activities, safety
- Sky & Telescope How to Photograph the Transit
There's an app for that!
- VenusTransit
Webcasts
(These links may no longer work after the event.)
- UMD Observatory UStream< (this will be our first public event... not sure if it will work!)
- Smithsonian UStream
- NASA UStream
- Exploratorium
- Slooh.com
- Mount Wilson Observatory
- other locations