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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Arizona conditions perfect for once-in-a-lifetime Transit of Venus observation

The Transit of Venus, an event that occurs only once every 105 years, will happen tomorrow, and will be visible from anywhere on the west coast and right here in Arizona, according to an LA Times article.

The transit will be similar to a lunar eclipse, with Venus passing in front of the sun, but instead of leaving a small ring of sunlight, the planet will appear as a small black dot. The transit will begin at 3 p.m. and will last the following seven hours, with visibility lasting as long as the sun is up.

The article also advises viewers to avoid looking directly at the sun, and provides a list of methods that won’t cause eclipse blindness. Viewing devices can also be picked up on campus at the Flandrau Center.

The UA Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium is hosting a gathering on the east end of the UA Mall which will allow participants to observe the transit through a variety of telescopes. The center is also streaming in live video of the eclipse from Mount Lemmon and Hawaii.

Viewers across the state should experience a 90-percent chance of clear skies during the transit, which will provide perfect conditions to see the once-in-a-lifetime event.

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