This month will bring what is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for sky watchers. The last transit of Venus for over 100 years will happen on Tuesday, June 5, that is next week. The transit of Venus is when Venus passes between the Earth and the sun. The photograph you see here is the 2004 transit of Venus seen from Hong Kong.
Some parts of the earth will be able to see Venus transit the Sun next week. If you happen to live in one of the areas where the transit will be visible, you get to see Venus slowly inch across the face of the sun. That is assuming you have the right hardware to see the sun without going blind. Venus will transit Tuesday afternoon for the Western Hemisphere and Wednesday morning for the Eastern Hemisphere.
People in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the northern part of southern America will be able to see the transit beginning before the sun sets. The transit will look like a small black dot inching across the face the sun. Keep in mind that you will need special glasses to be able to view the transit. The next transit of Venus won't happen until 2117.
[via Washington Post]