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Showing posts from June, 2012

Transit of Venus - 2012

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The universe is a collection of Planets, Stars and numerous other celestial objects which move in the vastness of the space surrounding them giving rise to several interesting celestial configurations, such as Eclipse, Transits, Occultation etc. Among these, eclipse is common and easily understood whereas transit is rather rare hence not heard very often. But here is a chance, not only to learn but to see (with naked eye) a rare Transit of Venus on June 6th , 2012. Venus, our immediate neighbor planet in the solar system has been known in the prehistoric times as two separate objects namely the morning star and the evening star. The   Babylonian   cuneiformic   texts such as the Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa , dated 1581 BC however described it as "bright queen of the sky” suggesting the two were indeed a single object and named it   Ishtar   (Sumerian   Inanna ), the personification of womanhood, and goddess of love and beauty. As such Venus, ap...