Community turns out for Venus transit


Professor James Webb explains images of the Venus Transit as viewed from an Internet feed from Hawaii, where skies were clear June 5.

While the timing of a Venus transit is predictable, the weather is not.

Approximately 100 people from FIU and neighboring communities showed up atop FIU’s Red Parking Garage June 5 to view Venus cross in front of the sun for the last time this century. But cloudy skies prevented a direct sighting.

“It was great to see so many people, of all ages, interested in the astronomical event of the century,” said James R. Webb, professor of astronomy and astrophysics. “Even when it became clear that the clouds would prevent us from seeing the transit, people stayed to talk astronomy and to relish the event with each other.”

FIU’s astronomers, all-too-familiar with the headaches weather can cause  in astronomy, showed up prepared. Though their telescopes were rendered virtually useless, they set up a viewing station via Internet feeds so those in attendance could see what the transit looked like from parts of the world where skies were clear.

The Venus transit is a rare occurrence that happens only twice in a century. This year’s transit was the second of the 21st century, the first occurring in 2004. The next transit will be in 2117.

For upcoming astronomy events, visit astroscience.fiu.edu.