Hawaii and the Transit of Venus
The transit of Venus of 1874. The British expedition waiting for contact on Punchbowl Street in Honolulu with Diamond Head in the background. (University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy)
On Tuesday, June 5, 2012 people in Hawaii will be gathering to witness the Transit of Venus. This rare event (which normally occurs only twice a century) is when Venus passes directly between the Earth and the Sun. If you miss this year’s Transit you’ll have to wait a long time to see the next one, which will not take place again until 2117! For detailed information on the upcoming event, visit http://www.transitofvenus.org/
Back in 1874, Hawaii’s King Kalakaua took an active interest in the Transit of Venus. To find out why and to learn more about the historic significance of the Transit of Venus, be sure to check out this article:
Astronomy in the Sandwich Islands: The 1874 Transit of Venus
Aloha!
what’s everyone doing on June 5?
Watching the Transit of Venus at places like the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/
Wish I lived on the big island… ;o)