HartRAO Home

HartRAO Home > news > Venus transits the Sun 2004/06/08

Venus transits the Sun 2004/06/08

On 2004 June 8, Venus passed in front of the Sun for the first time since 1882. Historically, these "Transits of Venus" were of great importance, as they enabled the size of the solar system to be measured. Today this is done using radar. However it is possible for individuals across most of Africa to make simple observations of this transit and so establish for themselves the size of the solar system. This made it a valuable educational exercise.

Three HartRAO staff members assisted with the mass public viewing at the Johannesburg Planetarium.

Pictures of the transit from Hartebeesthoek.

Venus transit at the Johannesburg Planetarium

A small enthusiastic group of learners and students form the Astro Hit Squad. This group, operating from the Johanesburg planetarium set up telescopes at shopping centres and events like the Rand Show to show the public the night sky.

This group formed the core of the Transit Team at the planetarium.

The group built venus transit viewers from cardboard boxes and dismantled binoculars. They also contributed small sections to the planetarium shows on the venus transit day.

By the end of the transit many of the schools had left the planetarium but a small crowd gathered to watch the transit team make their final measurements.

jp89
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Bongani using the projection box that he had built.

jp44
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

A young viewer watches the transit using Bongani's projection box.

jp44
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Mzi Taele from HartRAO explains the transit to one of the team.

jp54
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

And in turn, Althea, one of the learners who was part of the Transit Team, explains the transit to a group of learners.

jp64
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

A group of learners use eclipse viewers to follow venus's path across the sun.

jp84
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Timing third contact.

jp92
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Waiting for 3rd contact - is this it?

jp107
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Consternation as the sun is clouded over just before 4th contact.

There were more attractions than just Venus and the Sun to entertain and educate the visitors:

jp89
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Learners queue to view the moon thought the planetarium's Dobsonian telescope.

jp33
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

And yet more learners queue to view the moon.

jp74
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Using the turntable to demonstrate that "dead stars" spin faster.

jp113
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Some the Transit Team - before the transit. Planetarium Director Claire Flanagan is at lower left, and our intrepid photographer is fourth from the left.

jp117
Left click on image for large version [S Buchner]

Exhausted transit team after the final measurements were made.