New Yorkers will awaken to a rare treat this morning if they’re willing to get up early – the sight of Venus moving across the face of the sun.
For the first time in 122 years, the cloudy green planet will pass between the Earth and the sun, appearing as a small black dot as it makes its six-hour “transit” across the southern portion of the solar disk.
The transit of Venus won’t be visible until sunrise in New York, at 5:25 a.m. If you wake up after 7:26 a.m., you’ll miss it.
People in Europe, Africa and the Middle East will be able to watch the entire show.
Astronomy buffs and experts say it will be worth your while to wake up early.
“Venus will be about 1/30 the size of the sun, but it will be much darker and more intense than sunspots,” said Dr. Robert Walsh, of the University of Central Lancashire’s Center for Astrophysics.
The last transit of Venus occurred in 1882. There’ll be another in 2012 – but the next one after that won’t be until June 2133.
If you watch, make sure you don’t look directly at the sun. Use some form of indirect projection – a pinhole camera, for example – or filtered glass. Sunglasses do not offer enough protection.
“Never, ever look directly at the sun with the naked eye or telescope, binoculars or even digital camera,” Walsh said.
“Even a short period of time, you can damage your eye and lose some of your sight.”