File:Venus Heading for Transit (video) (7336227212).jpg

June 4, 2012

Venus appeared just as expected (June 1, 2012) in the field of view of SOHO’s wider field coronagraph (C3). It will cross in front of the Sun (called a transit) as seen from Earth on June 5-6. It is moving from left to right. The other bright, less bright, object moving right to left is Mercury. With coronagraphs, the Sun is being blocked by an occulting disk, seen here in blue, so that SOHO can observe the much fainter features in the Sun's corona. The actual size of the Sun is represented by the white disk. The entire field of view is 30 solar radii. We will be posting a movie and still per day showing its approach until the transit.

More information about the expected orbit of Venus can be found here: sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/hotshots/2012_05_18/

Transit of Venus - On June 5, 2012 at sunset on the East Coast of North America and earlier for other parts of the U.S., the planet Venus will make its final trek across the face of the sun as seen from Earth until the year 2117. The last time this event occurred was on June 8, 2004 when it was watched by millions of people across the world. Get prepared for this once in a lifetime event!

To read more about the 2012 Venus Transit go to: sunearthday.nasa.gov/transitofvenus

Add your photos of the Transit of Venus to our Flickr Group here: www.flickr.com/groups/venustransit/

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NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

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