Don't Get Blinded by Science

We have all been enjoying seeing in the west for the last several months. In just a few short weeks, though, we will be able to see Venus during the daytime! Beginning at 5 PM in the Homewood-Flossmoor area, Venus will begin crossing the upper left disc of the Sun. This will continue as the Sun is setting and will be complete just before midnight, local time. The transit of Venus occurs once every 100+ years and Tuesday, June 5, 2012, will be the last time until 2117. Even then, for those of us that have lived well (or are cyborgs or zombies), it won’t be visible from North or South America anyway.

How to View It

As this observation involves staring at the Sun, DON’T! There are several ways to safely observe it, though.

1. Buy Solar Shades

2. Wear welding goggles/hood with #14 shades. Most welders have less protection that #14, so if you don’t know the darkness of the goggles/hood, assume that they’re not enough.

3. Project the image of the Sun through a telescope or binoculars onto a sheet of paper. This allows for a group to view it occurring even if only one set of optics are available.

4. Build a Sun Funnel

5. Add a Solar Filter to your telescope.

How to NOT View It

1. Look at it through a telescope or binoculars. YOU WILL GO BLIND!

2. Stare at the Sun and let your eyes adjust. YOU WILL GO BLIND!

3. Look at it with welding goggles/hood at less than #14 darkness. YOU WILL GO BLIND!

If you have an unobstructed view of the Homewood-Flossmoor sunset (and maybe also like long walks in Irwin Park) let me know if you’d like to host HF’s viewing! I will have several telescopes and binoculars, in addition to the modifications needed to view the transit. (I will also have my no-cloud dance in full force!)

For more links and/or information, see Discover Magazine March 2012, National
Geographic March 2011, or even transitofvenus.org.