Venus transit to be seen in Ireland for first time since 13th century

VENUS crosses the face of the sun on Tuesday to mark an astronomical event so rare that no living person has ever witnessed it before.

Last time a Venus Transit occurred was on December 6, 1882, and the phenomenon has not been observable from Ireland since 1283.

On that occasion, long before the invention of telescopes, the event went unnoticed.

A Venus transit is similar to a solar eclipse, except that it is the planet Venus rather than the moon that passes between the Earth and the sun.

Venus will begin to cut a left-to-right diagonal path across the bottom of the sun from 6.19am, appearing as a small black disc. Given good weather, the whole event, which lasts six hours, can be seen from Ireland, but only with the right equipment.

Experts are warning people to use a telescope fitted with a proper solar filter, or to project the image onto a screen that can be viewed safely.

To look at the sun with the naked eye, or through a telescope or binoculars, is extremely dangerous.

A transit was observed for the first time on November 24, 1639, by young Lancashire amateur astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks.

The next transit will occur in June 6 2012, but will be hidden from Irish sky-watchers, who will have to wait until 2247 for another chance.

Further information at www.astronomy.ie