Go out, rare Transit of Venus seen today -- Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines -- A rare astronomical event occurs today, Wednesday, which will surely be a treat for Filipinos. The Transit of Venus, where the planet passes directly between the sun and earth, has started at sunrise Wednesday at 6:09 a.m. local time and will last until 12:49 p.m.

Weather-permitting, astronomy enthusiasts should definitely take advantage of this event as this will be the last in this century, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

During the transit, the planet Venus will appear as a small black disk, similar to a "mole" that will blemish the sun, said Engr. Dario dela Cruz, chief of Pagasa's. Space, Science, and Astronomy Section (SSAS).

Transits of Venus occur in pairs with more than a century separating each pair. The last transit occurred on June 8, 2004. After this latest transit, the next will occur in December 2117 and on 2125.

The entire transit is visible in Greenland, North and Central America, Pacific Islands, Australasia, East of Africa, Europe, and Asia, including the Philippines.

"We are very lucky," dela Cruz said. "The next one will be seen by the next generation." 

According to Pagasa's website, there are four "contacts" during a transit: the first contact (at 6:09 a.m.) where Venus is entirely outside the sun's disk, moving inward; the second contact (at 6:27 a.m.) where Venus is entirely inside the sun's disk and moving inward; the third contact (at 12:31 p.m.) where Venus is moving outward from the sun's disk; and the fourth contact (at 12:49 p.m.) where Venus is moving outward from the sun.

There is a "greatest transit," which will occur at 9:29 a.m. local time, where Venus is directly at the middle of the sun and already marks the halfway point in the transit.

Safety first

If weather permits, stargazers are advised to take safety precautions when viewing the transit.

Pagasa said the safest way to observe the transit is through a telescope, binoculars, or through the use of a screen.

The event can be viewed with the naked eye but only with the use of filters especially designed for such purpose such as an astronomical solar filter with vacuum-deposited layer of chromium, eclipse-viewing glasses or Grade 14 welder's glass.

Pagasa warned that observing the sun directly may cause temporary or permanent blindness and can destroy retinal cells.-Interaksyon (June 06, 2012)