Last chance this lifetime: Come to UWS to see the Transit of Venus

The University of Western Sydney is inviting the community to visit its Penrith campus Observatory, to witness one of the world’s rarest astronomical phenomena.

The Transit of Venus, which will take place from 8:15am to 2:45pm on June 6, occurs when the planet Venus passes directly between Earth and the Sun.

From Australia, Venus will appear as a small silhouette on the surface of the sun. In order to see it clearly and safely, the use of specialist equipment is recommended.

Associate Professor Miroslav Filipovic, the Director of the UWS Observatory, says the University’s computerised telescopes will be fitted with special solar and prominence filters for the occasion.

“The Transit of Venus is an extremely important celestial event. For all of us alive today, this will be the last chance to see such an interesting and rare phenomenon,” says Associate Professor Filipovic.

“The Transits occur in pairs, in cycles of more than 100 years. Captain James Cook sailed to Tahiti to observe a pair of transits occurring in 1761 and 1769, and subsequently discovered the coast of Australia; the next transits took place in 1874 and 1882.

“The first of our pair occurred in 2004. After the June 2012 Transit, Venus will not pass between Earth and the Sun again until December 2117 and 2125.”

WHERE: UWS Observatory, (Building AO), Werrington North campus, Great Western Highway, Werrington
WHEN: The Transit will take place from 8.15am to 2.45pm, Wednesday 6th June 2012
COST: $10 per person

Bookings are essential for this once in a lifetime opportunity. To schedule your viewing of the Transit of Venus, please contact the UWS Observatory on: (02) 4736 0135 (Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) or email r.mccourt@uws.edu.au

Ends 

16 April 2012

Contact: Danielle Roddick, Senior Media Officer