# The Transit of Venus has started! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 8, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249 "2004-06-08T05:42:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/1 "2004-06-08T05:42:35Z")
And we’re watching it from the office. We’re using a pair of binoculars to focus the sunlight onto a darkened wall. Venus moved completely into the Sun at 3.26pm (Sydney time). It’s rather fascinating to think that this hasn’t occurred for 122 years. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/2 "2004-06-08T06:33:41Z")
Unfortunately, we’ve just started our rainy season here, so it’s pretty overcast. An occasional ray of sunlight peeks through every now and then, but never lasts long enough for me to get out to the balcony. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/3 "2004-06-08T06:41:19Z")
That’s a pity **Sublight**. We’re getting a perfect view of the transit here. But the sun will set in about another thirteeen minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/4 "2004-06-08T06:46:04Z")
I got up especially early to watch it start here (UK). We have unseasonably hot and sunny weather at the moment so got a perfect view. I’m projecting it onto a white door using a small telescope. Pretty amazing to think there’s the shadow of a whole planet there on my wardrobe door 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/5 "2004-06-08T06:52:51Z")
I’ve seen it! I’ve seen it!!! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/6 "2004-06-08T06:55:16Z")
\*\*Colophon \*\* - happy viewing! The sun has just set here in Sydney so that’s it until 2012, when we’ll be able to see the next transit of Venus in its entirety (weather permitting). ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/7 "2004-06-08T07:11:24Z")
I have a telescope and a pair of binocs. How would I set them up to see this? I’m in CST in the US, I assume it’ll still be visible today (Tuesday). Or am I wrong? And can it be seen with one of those pinhole-type deals kids use to see an eclipse? (If so, please advise as I’ve never used one) ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/8 "2004-06-08T07:26:52Z")
\*\*duffer \*\* - I assume that CST is central time i.e. somewhere like Chicago? I’ve just checked the times for Chicago, which will probably be close enough to give you an idea: - maximum transit is at 3.20am - Venus starts to leave the sun at 5.06am - Venus completely leaves the sun at 5.26am So, depending on when the sun rises, you might catch a bit of the final stages of the transit. Just use your telesope to project the sunlight onto a wall or door. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/9 "2004-06-08T07:28:10Z")
**Duffer** , it’s very simple. If you have a telescope, place it somewhere where it has a clear aim at the sun. If there’s a handy pale wall behind it then that’s ideal, otherwise hold up a sheet of paper behind it. Get the telescope lined up straight at the sun (obviously don’t look through it to check this :smack: - you can tell from the shape of the shadow… when the scope is aimed right its shadow will be basically circular. Adjust the direction and focus so you see the image of the sun projecting onto the paper. It’s easiest to start with the paper close up to the eyepiece, then once it is lined up you can move the paper backwards to get a larger image. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/10 "2004-06-08T07:37:36Z")
I will probably be late for work now, but I’ve just stuck up a very poor quality pic of the setup [here](http://www.geocities.com/azbf04/). You can see the telescope at the lower left, and I’m holding up a bit of paper to project the image on (the sun is at an annoying angle now so the image is almost on the floor! ---
**Author:** ![Tuco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tuco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuco)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/11 "2004-06-08T07:48:47Z")
I’ve seen it! Binoculars projected onto a piece of paper for me, and I’m sure I’ll see it a lot more today as the kids ask to see it (I’m a science technician in a school). ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/12 "2004-06-08T07:50:43Z")
Í’ll be outside over lunch, but I only have regular shades on me. I’ll take a quick peak, then. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Galanthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Galanthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galanthus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/13 "2004-06-08T09:36:42Z")
It’s been cloudy all morning here and I was getting depressed, but the sun just broke through long enough for me to project it onto card with my binocs ten minutes ago. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/14 "2004-06-08T11:15:33Z")
I couldn’t get myself out of bed at 3 am and now I can’t get the webcast to work. I have been waiting to see this for years, but I couldn’t get out of bed. Some amateur astronomer I am. Why why why do I not have a solar filter??? I’m gonna cry. And then make plans to see the 2012 transit in its entirety immediately. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/15 "2004-06-08T11:23:06Z")
I _can’t_ see it, dammit. I’ve got a perfect view of the sun. I’ve tried pinhole projection, projection with binoculars, and using heavy optical filtering, but I can’t make out that damned dot of Venus! ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/16 "2004-06-08T11:25:59Z")
Me neither. After writing my above post, I took my telescope outside and tried to get a pinhold projection. Nothing. I think it’s over. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/17 "2004-06-08T11:43:22Z")
Yep, it finished at 12.24 BST, which is… er, well nearly 20 minutes ago now. Sorry. Only another 8 years to wait till the next one. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/18 "2004-06-08T11:45:18Z")
Emily and I went out and watched it, it was very cool. Very pretty morning out here as well. We only got the last few minutes since sunrise was 5:15 CST and that was near the end. We walked toward Lake Michigan to see it, but we couldn’t make it out until we were almost at the shore. Our conversation went something like “What are we looking for here? I’m not sure what we’re supposed to see. Hmm. I don’t know… _holy crap, there’s a spot on the Sun!_” 😃 I’m glad we got a few minutes of it, since further west in the US it wasn’t visible at all. Fun, lovely view. We’ll do this again in, say, 2012? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/19 "2004-06-08T11:51:08Z")
I saw it! Very impressive. I’s amazing how fast a planet can move. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2004, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249/20 "2004-06-08T11:56:36Z")
One question… I was rummaging around looking for my proper silvered eclipse glasses, but couldn’t find them. So, I was only able to observe the transit using the telescope projection method. The question is - if I had found the glasses and looked at the sun through them with no magnification (no health warnings please - these are specifically designed to allow this safely), would Venus have been big enough to see? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-transit-of-venus-has-started/249249.md?page=2)