Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The Occoquan Town Council still met outside at 7 p.m., as was originally planned so that Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta could watch the transit.
Those who hoped to see the transit of Venus from the Occoquan and Lorton areas were disappointed tonight, as clouds covered the sun only minutes before the transit was set to start. Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta set up his telescope on a grassy hill overlooking Vulcan Materials on Ox Road in Lorton. Though the sky was partially cloudy shortly before 6 p.m., the sun was still visible in the lens until about 6 p.m., when thick clouds covered the sun until sundown. The transit began at about 6:03 p.m. Porta, an amateur astronomer, uses an eight inch SCT telescope, which tonight was equipped with solar filters to shield the eyes of those interested in observing the transit. A small crowd of about 25 people gathered, but they slowly dispersed …
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Looking directly at the sun will damage your eyes. Here are some tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
While watching the transit of Venus this evening, make sure you're watching this rare planetary event in a safe manner. "Looking directly at it would damage your eye's retina, the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye that provides central vision," said Christine Douglass, the public relations manager for the American Academy of Ophthamology. "Sunglasses, binoculars with filters, neutral density filters, or exposed photographic or radiographic film" will not adequately protect the eyes, Douglass said. Get daily and breaking news email updates from Lake Ridge-Occoquan Patch by signing up for the free Patch newsletter. Learn more here. Douglass suggested the following safe viewing options:
Monday, June 4, 2012
The next council meeting is June 5.
On Tuesday, June 5, the Occoquan Town Council will hold its regular monthly council meeting. This time, however, it may in fact be a very special meeting, for the Town Council on that date will convene outdoors in an area provided by Vulcan Materials, just across the Occoquan River in Fairfax County. The purpose of the meeting outdoors is to give Town residents and other participants an opportunity to witness the rare astronomical occurrence known as a transit of Venus, part of which will occur as the council meeting is taking place. Transits of Venus—when the planet Venus appears to cross the disk of the Sun—are rare events that occur roughly once a century in pairs eight years apart. The most recent transit occurred in 2004, and this …
The transit of Venus is a rare occurrence: it won't happen again until 2117.
A celestial phenomenon will occur on June 5, and it (probably) won't happen again in your lifetime. The transit of Venus will be visible in Virginia shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday. Venus will look like a black dot as it passes in front of the sun. This will be the last opportunity to see Venus in transit until 2117. The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is setting up a number of viewing parties to celebrate the event. As they put it in a press release: "It's like the Kentucky Derby for a horse. You get one shot at this in your lifetime." Here's where to watch the transit of Venus locally: Like our Facebook page for instant local updates! For those who are unable to leave the house, NASA will also live-stream the event. Transits of Venus …
Friday, June 1, 2012
The next council meeting is June 5.
On Tuesday, June 5, the Occoquan Town Council will hold its regular monthly council meeting. This time, however, it may in fact be a very special meeting, for the Town Council on that date will convene outdoors in an area provided by Vulcan Materials, just across the Occoquan River in Fairfax County. The purpose of the meeting outdoors is to give Town residents and other participants an opportunity to witness the rare astronomical occurrence known as a transit of Venus, part of which will occur as the council meeting is taking place. Transits of Venus—when the planet Venus appears to cross the disk of the Sun—are rare events that occur roughly once a century in pairs eight years apart. The most recent transit occurred in 2004, and this …
Rachel Leon
1:28 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Oh, I'm glad you did get to see it for a bit! more ›