West Hawaii Today
West Hawaii Today
Venus will make its rare pass across the face of the sun as a gliding small black dot. On the Big Island, there are numerous free viewing sites for astronomy aficionados and others who’d like to catch a glimpse of this astronomical phenomenon, dubbed “Transit of Venus,” Tuesday.
The transit occurs in pairs, every 105 to 120 years. The last transit that could be viewed in its entirety from Hawaii occurred in 1769, with partial viewing in 1874 and 1882. After Tuesday, the transit won’t be able to be seen completely here until sometime after 2700, according to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station.
The transit of Venus will begin around noon and end just before sunset Tuesday. As in a solar eclipse, the public should never directly look at the sun without proper eye protection. Telescopes, special protective glasses and presentations will be at several of viewing sites.
The sites are the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo, W.M. Keck Headquarters in Waimea, Canada France Hawaii Telescope in Waimea, Mauna Kea summit, Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority in Kailua-Kona, Mauna Kea State Park and the lot across from the Keaau Fire Station.
For more information about the transit or the viewing sites, visit www.ifa.hawaii.edu/info/vis/calendar/transit-of-venus-june-5-2012.html.