NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the morning hours of June 8, visitors to
Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory will witness an astronomical event that no
living person has ever seen. Venus-the Earth’s sister planet-will move
directly between the Earth and the sun. The public is invited to view
this rare event during a live broadcast at the observatory.
Beginning at 11 p.m. on June 7, astronomers from Fisk and Vanderbilt
universities will be on hand to discuss the historical significance of
this event, which last occurred in 1882. Over approximately the next
seven hours, the tiny black dot of the planet Venus will be visible as
it cuts a slow left-to-right diagonal path across the disc of the sun.
"This is a unique opportunity to witness a natural event of such
rarity and historical importance," said Keivan Stassun, assistant
professor of astronomy at Vanderbilt University. "Even ‘blue moons’
occur more often than this!"
Dyer Observatory is
one of only 12 centers around the world chosen by NASA to host the live
broadcast from the National Observatory of Greece. Dyer Observatory
staff will record its own images of the transit to be shared with
viewers around the world via the NASA Venus Transit 2004 website.
The
previous transit of Venus occurred on Dec. 6, 1882, and was one of just
six events of its type ever seen by mankind since the invention of the
telescope. Previous transits gave scientists an opportunity to measure
the scale of the distance from Earth to the sun, which is called the
astronomical unit.
The transit occurs four times in every 243 years. There are two
December transits, eight years apart, and 121.5 years later there are
two June transits, also eight years apart. The cycle begins again after
another 105.5 years. The next Venus transit will occur in June 2012,
allowing many to be lucky enough to witness this rare event twice in
one lifetime. Following that, the next transit will not occur until
2117.
The live broadcast allows safe viewing of the Venus transit from the
observatory. Because of the hazard of serious eye damage, the sun
should not be looked at directly; proper eye protection is needed.
Dyer Observatory is one of Middle Tennessee’s most unique venues for
public, private and corporate events. Each year, Dyer hosts thousands
of visitors through school tours, observation nights, scout events and
other community programs.
Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory is
located at 1000 Oman Drive in Brentwood. Reservations are required for
the Venus transit broadcast and can be made by calling 615-373-4897.
For more information on the Venus transit, visit www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu.
Media contact: Melanie Catania, (615) 322-NEWS
melanie.moran@vanderbilt.edu