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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

What the Transit will look like

On the morning of the 8th of June, 5:16 am, Venus will slowly slide across the face of the Sun. It will be in progress when the Sun rises, but we will get to see the second half of the event. The moment when Venus touches the edge of the Sun will be especially interesting to observe.

Below is what the transit will look like:

• CONTACT III - 6:05 am
• CONTACT IV - 6:09 am
• - End of Transit -

I shall be up by the lakefront before dawn to set-up my equipment, but probably not at my usual location. I need to position myself to catch the sun as it rises, so it will most likely be behind the planetarium. I will utilize a portable highly reflective projection screen, so that many can watch the event at the same time as it unfolds before us.

Pray for clear skies, for the next transit won't happen till 2012.

Joe
Chicago Astronomer

[NatureDevil]

Early on a Tuesday morning....DAMN MY ACCOUNTING CLASS!!!

NatureDevil

[sarwat]

Hello all! (Including Venusians)

Let me try and whip up a little transit frenzy so that we can sulk big time if it is cloudy that morning. By the way,
June 8 is in Accuweather range now and they say it will be sunny!!!! wooohooo

Presently astronomers agree that Venus does not have any moons. Many astronomers in the past, however, have reported observing it (for example, none less than Cassini). It even has a name: Neith, although its existence was never proven, or disproven for that matter. The transit is a golden opportuinity to see it first hand if it chooses to reveal itself. Look for any tiny spot besides the disk of Venus that travels along with it. If you do see it, you would be making an exciting discovery about the same time as anyone else on the planet! Just make sure the spot travels with Venus, otherwise it may just be a sunspot.

Warning; yeah we all know but this makes it look professional:

Caution: Never look at the Sun directly or through an instrument unless proper full aperture filters are being used.

[astroviewerNGC2207]

UUUUmmm ....
If Venus had a moon wouldnt it be visible at night when we see it through a scope ?
I have looked at venus through an 8" schmidt cass and a 10" reflector .. i saw no moon
So why would it passing by the sun make a difference in seeing if it had a moon or not ?
Venus is just as visible when it is in the night sky .....

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I disagree with the Venus moon therory. Venus is far too close in proximity to earth to have escaped attention for so long. We even have had spacecrafts orbit and land on the planet.

Now what defines a moon, it's mass, shape or distance? Perhaps "Neith" was captured space debris and was a temp moon, which either spiraled into Venus or shot away. I think that the gravitaion force of the sun would play into this and prevent a moon from joining up permamently.

Thanks sarwat for posting this, as I never heard of it before. I have an open mind for any logical theory. I will keep an observational eye open during the transit, it should be great fun!

I hope the skies are clear!!!

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[sarwat]

Disclaimer: I am not a pro, not even a seasoned amateur. My ramblings, vthough based on some facts, are not technically rigorous (not even close) and are not intended to be so. So have a pinch of salt ready.

I too, (sadly) agree that it is highly improbable that Venus has any conventional
moons. Its existence is not a theory but an uncofirmed "report". We may try to come up with a theory to explain these several reports,
curiously, none of them in modern times. The theory may range from fabrications, optical illusions
to mistaking distant stars and as Joe said, temporarily captured debris (very plausible) for Neith.

On the more exotic side, it may be a companion asteroid, like the so called Earth's second moon: Cruithne, periodically getting close to and away from Venus, thus explaining a flurry of sightings followed by no sightings. It is eclipsed or occulted by Venus
most of the time, becoming visible only when the system is viewed against the Sun, so there. Really wierd orbits have been shown to be theoretically possible.

I know it is more of fantasy than serious astronomy but...

Come on don't take this away from me ;-)

Sarwat

[JayBee]

Is anyone planning on trying to catch this?

I know I am planning to (weather permitting).

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Jaybee,

Yep, I'll be at the lakefront that early morning, but we have been clouded over for major astronomical events practically every single time! I plan to use the projection method, instead of direct viewing.

Check out the post under Venus transit/Adler's schedule for more detailed information.

We have quite an armada of scopes here at the Chicago Astronomer forum. Perhaps it would be a nice idea to assemble together and have a mini Chicago star party.

[NatureDevil]

I am pretty sure that I, along with 2 cohorts of mine, will be able to make the event. We are making a special day out of it, as our chances to see some waterfalls on a road trip to northern Minnesota have fallen short to NONSTOP RAINSTORMS that won't let up.

And we have been upset at not being able to go on our usual tri-weekly road trips to see "stuff" we come across. So we are instead going to head down to the Planetarium very early and hang out there all morning, maybe even go to the Shedd after a good hearty breakfast and sleep the day away watching the dolphins get fed a healthier diet than we've been able to afford for ourselves. We owe it to ourselves to make this event.

Oh, the life of a college student.

I thank everyone here in advance, especially Joe, for letting me mooch off of there telescopes. It is greatly appreciated, more than anyone knows.

NatureDevil

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Co-horts, eh?

I am quite excited about this event. I shall spend the next sunny say calibrating the scope and running thru the setup for the projection. To filter or not to filter, and I have some mylar that I would like to experiment with, to fit on the open end of the scope. Let's just see.

I remember when I was a kid setting up the scope off my back porch and just barely reaching and catching the last few rays of the setting sun. Lo and Behold...Sunspots! The most unique thing I ever saw! Four spots on different latitudes. I was using a screw- on sunfilter then, (I have no idea where it went).

The odds are against us in terms of clear skies, we might...just get lucky.

Brian, I don't know if you know about the City pass that the library issues. You can get into the museums for free! And many of the shows are free as well! I used them in the past, and recommend it highly. This way, all you have to pay for is the parking, ($12.00), and food that you and your co-horts consume.

My great pleasure is offering free "Mooching" views of the heavens. No charge. Perhaps in exchange you can teach me to play the guitar ala The Ventures.

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The following are the percentages that are calculated for Chicago's skies, (based on past averages), in regards to the date of the Transit...

Percent Frequency of Cloud Cover at mid-transit - Chicago

Clear beats Overcast...but, not by much. Chicago's proximity to the lake brings on the poor visibility. But I'm taking my chances at the lakefront that morning.

Joe
[glow=blue,2,300]Chicago Astronomer[/glow]

[stargazer]

Hi gang,

Just to let you know Venus has no Moons. I know this after studing the planet in some detail in one of my classes. Sorry to disapoint all of you. What they thought was a possible Moon turned out to be just Space junk in the area just passing by. Although more studies are ongoing as to the Why Not but for now It has None.

Becky

[NatureDevil]

I never heard of Venus having any moon, and as far as I know, it doesn't have one.

I don't think anyone really believes Venus has a moon, but I could be wrong.

There are too many articles posted everywhere about extra planets and moons and asteroids and stuff......too much of it, and it gets annoying, so I never take any of it seriously. No one can even decide on just how many moons Saturn has. Uranus had 15 moons 6 years ago, now I think the count is up to 18 last I checked.

So no, I am not disapointed at all cause I never believed Venus had a moon in the first place. I think something like that would have been detected a while ago (a long while ago).

NatureDevil

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

What about this...

I never thought about it before, but suppose Venus DOES have a small moon...and it orbits below the Cloud line. Has the distance from the surface to the tops of the clouds ever been measured? My question would be, do the clouds vary in thickness and distance?

Hmmmmm...

[NatureDevil]

That is possible, but wouldn't it be detected by atmospheric movement due to it's size and speed?

And Venus moves way too slow too, which means there should be an easily detectable "wobble" to show something large and close pulling on it.

Kind of like how they detect planets for stars far away.

That is my guess anyways. Where did this idea of the Venus moon start from anyways? This forum has been up no more than a month and already we start having vicious astronomical rumors.... ;D

NatureDevil

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Sarwat brought it up in an attempt to take attention away of me of pushing him into the lake... 'cause he's too smart. Haven't heard from him in awhile.

I hope someone didn't beat me to it!

But really, It has been floating around for some time, since the transit of 1882 at least.

[NatureDevil]

Wait....so people once thought a long time ago that Venus had a moon. Venus revoles the wrong way, very slowly, doesn't it?

Perhaps the moon existed once upon a time, something devastating happened, and now we have this weird leftover concoction of a planet, and a moon gone M.I.A.

Just another astronomical mystery we'll never solve. Maybe that is why I love this science. When I don't know the answer to something, chances are no one else does either.......

NatureDevil

[sarwat]

Hello everybody, was busy with a conference since last week.

I confess there was a hidden agenda of spreading some sensation behind the post. Neith has not been seen since more than a century, and is unlikely to exist. It is improbable that it is in the atmosphere since even the thick venusian atmosphere would slow it down sending it spiralling down to the planet.

So what's up with the get together plan? I suggest that we meet at a dark location. Otherwise there is nothing to see apart from the moon and Jupiter. I would prefer if there is no large body of water around.

glub glub glub...
sarwat...
glub glub...

Chicago said:

Sarwat brought it up in an attempt to take attention away of me of pushing him into the lake... 'cause he's too smart. Haven't heard from him in awhile.

I hope someone didn't beat me to it!

But really, It has been floating around for some time, since the transit of 1882 at least.

[NatureDevil]

The suburbs are always a good place.

If I am lucky enough to aquire a certain telescope soon, I may take it with me on my little road trip the second week of July to northern Minnesota, right by Canada and Lake Superior. Lotsa darkness there.

That is only IF the telescope becomes mine soon. I have never really used a telescope of my own, so if all goes through in the next few weeks (basically me convincing someone to give/sell me one they have had for 30 years in their attic, unused or touched) I'll need to learn how to use the damn thing!

NatureDevil

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Sarwat ole pal....

Was wondering if you went mad looking at the Transit of last week. Glad to see you are well and dry.

Brian....

When you get it, let me know, and we will put it thru it's paces. Even a 60mm refractor provides decent views of the major targets. I cut my teeth on one for many years with satisfactory results. A 30 year old classic just waiting to scan the skies.

A get together is inevitable amongst the Chicago Astronomers. Let's start this discussion soon. I'll create a board just for this.

It will be up tomorrow.