The Solar Dynamics Observatory’s eyes are fixated on Venus and has delivered the first up close view of the event pre-ingress.
A transit only occurs about once or twice every 100 years. The next transit of Venus is 2117. What this means now about Venus, is that the planet is changing from an ‘Evening Star’ to a ‘Morning Star.’ For the past several months Venus as been a brilliant ‘Evening Star’ — setting after the Sun. It is rare that this change is ever accompanied by a transit across the Sun. Venus usually quietly disappears for awhile as it is too close to the Sun to see. Before the June 5, 2012 transit, Venus was setting after the sun. After June 5, 2012, Venus is setting before the Sun, or in the morning — rising before the Sun. In fact, both Jupiter and Venus rise just before the Sun in June 2012.
Eventually Venus will appear in morning twilight. Venus will gradually become more and more visible as the ‘Morning Star.’ On June 14, 2012 Venus rises about 4:42 a.m. CDT, while the Sun rises at about 5:16 a.m. CDT. Venus is also visible in brighter skies with the Sun in the sky. Venus is even reported to be visible in broad daylight with a photograph at 2:30 p.m. PT in 1988 (See Viewing Venus in broad daylight). To see Venus in broad daylight, an observer has to know the approximate angle of Venus from the Sun and then stand in a position in shade where the Sun’s direct light is blocked.
Terms to know about Venus, Earth and Sun …
Inferior Conjunction. The Venus cycle begins with the Inferior Conjunction — when Venus is exactly between the Earth and the Sun, and is changing from an ‘Evening Star’ to a ‘Morning Star.’ The ‘reappearance’ of Venus as a ‘Morning Star’ occurs about one week after Inferior Conjunction’ when the Sun and Venus are about 10 degrees apart. The rare transit occurs during Inferior Conjunction. Venus is brightest about 36 days either side of the Inferior Conjunction. Ironically, Venus is in a crescent phase when it is brightest. Venus has phases like the Moon has phases. However, when Venus is in full phase and fuller phases, it is in orbit much further away on the opposite side of the Sun. Venus was observed to be especially bright at the end of April and the beginning of May in 2012.
Superior Conjunction. Venus is on the exact far side of the sun at ‘Superior Conjunction,’ and is changing from a ‘Morning Star’ to an ‘Evening Star.’ Venus is in full phase during Superior Conjunction.
The cycle from one Inferior Conjunction to the next takes 584 days.
Entire transit, but why does ‘black dot” appear translucent at edge of sun?
Astronomers will witness a transit of a distant Exo-planet around it’s sun about the same time Venus transits our Sun.
See also …
EarthSky Why was Venus so bright in late April and early May 2012?
Khaldea Venus Morning Star Evening Star Venue (Astrology)
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