Transit of Venus: Special events across Scotland to view this major planetary event

Scotland’s astronomers are calling all teachers, pupils and the public to get ready for the Transit of Venus on 8 June 2004. The transit happens when the planet Venus passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, appearing as a dark spot on the Sun's disk. It happens every hundred years or so and for centuries astronomers have been measuring the transit to calculate the distance to the Sun. The last transit was in 1882 so no-one alive today has seen this event. The transit lasts 6 hours and can be safely observed with simple equipment. IT IS NOT SAFE TO LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN.

John Brown, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, commented "It's wonderful to see how many events are going on across Scotland. This is one of those special astronomical events that capture's our imagination. I would encourage everyone to find out how to observe the Sun safely and then go out and enjoy it."

Throughout April and May, Edinburgh's team of Cultural Coordinators will also be encouraging schools to join in this opportunity to enjoy this rare astronomical event with its rich historical connections.

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Image

SOHO (ESA & NASA) image of the sun with the path of Venus during the transit superimposed.

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Public Events Around Scotland

Astronomers and observatories throughout Scotland are running events in the build up to the event and on the day itself.

Getting ready for the transit...

Royal Observatory, Edinburgh

• Public workshops, 7.00-9.00pm, every Friday in May.
  Part of the Observatory's Summer Observing Programme.
  £ 6 family ticket, £2.60 adults, £1.85 child/concs. Booking essential 0131 668 8404.
  Activities:
  - Demonstration of safe observing techniques including the use of binoculars, telescopes and sun spotters.
  - Introductory talk: 'What is the transit?'.
  - Display about the history of the transit and its importance.

• Teachers’ workshop, 4.30-7.00pm, 20 May.
  Part of Cultural Coordinator's astronomy project.
  £ 10. Booking essential 0131 668 8404.
  Activities: as above, plus detailed information on how to use the transit for learning in schools.

University of Edinburgh, School of Education

• Transit of Venus presentation, 12.30, 01 June
  There will be a short presentation to staff and students in the School of Education in St Mary's Land. Visitors are welcome.

Dundee's Mills Observatory

• Transit Exhibition from 24 May.
  The Observatory will have an exhibition explaining the transit, its history and significance.
  Free admission.

Glasgow Science Centre

• Illustrated presentation and planetarium show. Doors open at 18:30 for 19:00, 27th May.
  Captain Cook and the Cosmic Yardstick: Dr Martin Hendry, University of Glasgow
  Members: £4.95 (please bring your membership card).
  Non-members: £5.95 adults and £4.45 child/concs.
  Booking essential 0141 420 5000.
  
  In June 1769 a transit of Venus was observed by hundreds of astronomers around the world, including those who accompanied Captain Cook to Tahiti, as part of his first great voyage of discovery. Observations of the 1769 transit allowed astronomers to measure accurately the distance between the Earth and the Sun for the first time ever. Come along to this lecture and learn about Captain Cook's voyage, and how astronomers measured the 'Cosmic Yardstick'.

• Special "Transit of Venus" live presentations (25 min - recommended for over 5s) in the ScottishPower Space Theatre. Science Centre admission: adult £6.95, child/concs £4.95, planetarium add-on £2. Groups of 4+ receive a 10% discount.
  
  Sat 5th & Sun 6th June
  11:00 - Junior Sky Tonight
  13:00 - Transit of Venus (25 min - recommended for over 5s)
  14:00 - MARS
  15:00 - Junior Sky Tonight
  16:30 - Transit of Venus
  
  Mon 7th June:
  11:00 - Transit of Venus
  14:00 - Meditation Session
  15:00 - Junior Sky Tonight
  16:30 - Transit of Venus

8 June. On the day itself there are activities around Scotland:

Royal Observatory, Edinburgh

• An Edinburgh primary and secondary school will be joining the staff at the Observatory to witness and record the transit and to take part in special activities.

Edinburgh City Centre

• 'Pavement Astronomers' from the University of Edinburgh School of Education will be popping up around the Capital's streets to show passers-by the Solar System in action from 6am to noon. An image of the Sun and Venus will be projected for all to see. There will also be a chance to make your own measurement of this momentous event.

Isle of Skye

• A number of Glasgow University astronomers will be observing the transit from the Isle of Skye, where a solar physics conference is being held at the Sabhal Mor Ostaig Further Education College, from June 7th - 11th.

Dundee's Mills Observatory

• The UK's only full-time public observatory will be opening its doors at 6am on the 8th of June for members of the public to come in and view the transit at first hand. The 10" Cooke Refractor will be used to project an image of the Sun so that several people will be able to view it at the same time. There will also be relayed images of the transit from the internet, in case of cloudy weather. Free admission.

• Local schools will be able to take advantage of the facilities offered by the observatory to record timings of the four contacts of Venus with the Sun's disk. These can be combined with observations from other parts of the world to calculate the distance of the Sun.

Glasgow Science Centre

• Special "Transit of Venus" live presentations (25 min - recommended for over 5s) in the ScottishPower Space Theatre. Science Centre admission: adult £6.95, child/concs £4.95, planetarium add-on £2. Groups of 4+ receive a 10% discount.
  
  11:00 - Transit of Venus*
  14:00 - Transit of Venus
  15:00 - Junior Sky Tonight
  16:30 - Transit of Venus
  *NOTE: this Transit of Venus presentation may include a live webcast of the event

• Outdoor programme (weather permitting)
  Public viewing of the transit with a Sunspotter telescope.
  Free.

Coats Observatory, Paisley

• The last time the Transit of Venus was seen was in 1882, the year the Coats Observatory was built. The Renfrewshire Astronomical Society will be on hand to explain events as they unfold, and tell visitors how they can safely observe the transit. There will be an outdoor programme of viewing with Sunspotter equipment (weather permitting), planetarium shows and lots of fun, hands-on activities on offer all day. You can even meet some Victorian astronomers!
  Free admission. Open 6am – 4pm.

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More Information about the Transit of Venus

You can find out more about the Transit of Venus from the following websites:

European Southern Observatory
Society for Popular Astronomy
NASA
Universtiy of Central Lancashire (UK hub)

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Contacts

For more information on any of the Transit of Venus events please contact the host organisation:

Royal Observatory Edinburgh:
Tel: 0131 668 8404
E mail: vis@roe.ac.uk
www.roe.ac.uk/vc

University of Edinburgh School of Education:
Tel: 0131 651 6612
E mail: bob.kibble@ed.ac.uk
www.education.ed.ac.uk/

Dundee Mills Observatory:
Tel: 01382 435967
E mail: mills.observatory@dundeecity.gov.uk
www.dundeecity.gov.uk/mills/

Glasgow Science Centre:
Tel: 0141 420 5000 x310
E mail: mario.dimaggio@glasgowsciencecentre.org
www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/

Coats Observatory, Paisley
Tel: 0141 889 3151
E mail: laura.mcgugan@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Glasgow University:
Dr Alec Mackinnon (Conference Organiser)
Dept of Adult and Continuing Education
Tel: 0141 330 1857
E mail: alec@astro.gla.ac.uk

Cultural Coordinators:
Kate Marshall
Tel: 0131 469 3349
E mail: Kate.Marshall@educ.edin.gov.uk

The Royal Observatory Edinburgh comprises the UK Astronomy Technology Centre of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Edinburgh and the ROE Visitor Centre.