Transit of venus, a rare astronomical wonder, will wait until 2 1 17 next time! Can we wait?

On June 5 and 6, 20 12, it was not until 150 years later, that is, on February 217, Venus passed through the sun for the last time, which was a historic moment for astronomers all over the world. This is the second and last transit of venus that can be observed on a global scale.

Transit refers to a celestial body passing between the sun and the earth. This term usually applies to Mercury and Venus, but satellites and spaceships also transit the sun, albeit on a smaller scale. Transit of venus usually lasts only a few hours.

Transit of venus is very rare on earth, because the orbits of the two planets are slightly different. Venus's orbit is slightly tilted relative to the Earth, so even though Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth once every 65,438+0.6 years (because of its fast revolution speed), it is usually slightly higher or lower than the Sun, so it is covered by the strong light of the Sun. These transits mark the time when Venus and the Earth are aligned on the same plane.

Illustration: Schematic diagram of transit of venus process.

Transit of venus always appears in pairs, and the second time will appear eight years after the first time. The transit of 20 12 on June 5th and 6th occurred after June 8th, 2004, and that of 2 1 17 occurred after 2125th. Transit of venus is paired, because the Earth and Venus will stay on the same plane for some time before Venus returns to its inclined orbit. The last transit of venus was in February at 1874 and 1882.

Illustration: 1769 transit of venus observation record depicts the phenomenon of black drops.

This is not only a fascinating sight, but also transit of venus has two main uses for scientists. First of all, it can measure the distance between the sun and the earth more accurately through the deviation of viewing angle. Secondly, it can be used to study and observe planets outside the solar system. Most exoplanets are discovered by transit method, which includes measuring the brightness decrease of stars relative to the earth during transit. By measuring the amount of sunlight blocked during transit of venus, we can better estimate the types of planets observed in other parts of the Milky Way.

Illustration: 1882 transit of venus image taken by the US Naval Observatory.

Transit of venus refers to the astronomical phenomenon that Venus, the planet between the sun and the earth, sweeps across the disk of the sun like a black spot, blocking a small part of the solar radiation that is directed at the earth. This astronomical phenomenon may last for several hours. Transit of venus's principle is the same as an eclipse caused by the moon. Although Venus is almost 3.5 times the diameter of the moon, it covers a very small area of the sun because it is farther away from the earth. Scientists can estimate the distance between the sun and the earth by observing the transit of venus. The planetarium phenomenon of transit can also be observed on Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Illustration: Illustration in the observation records of Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov 176 1 transit of venus.

Venus is the second closest planet to the sun and the closest planet to the earth in the solar system. Besides the sun and the moon, Venus is the brightest celestial body in the sky. Transit of venus is a rare astronomical phenomenon. The last transit of Venus will take place on June 6, 20 12, and the next transit will not appear until 2 1 17.

Illustration: 1874 transit of venus Centennial Day, a monument erected by Yokohama City at the observation site.

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