Just a Black Dot?
Monday 28 May 2012 at 6pm to 7pm
On 5 June 2012, Venus will appear as a perfect black dot crossing the face of the Sun. This is known as a transit and is a very rare event to view from Earth. Only Venus and Mercury are placed to do this, and only then when there is an exact alignment of orbits. Though occurring in pairs a few years apart, this is generally a 'once-in-a-lifetime' experience.
First predicted by Kepler to happen in 1631, it was not viewed and recorded until 1639 by Horrocks who with great accuracy predicted all the subsequent transit timings. After the excitement of the June 2004 transit, Venus returns to make its last transit until December 2117.
The talk will look at the historical importance and Oxford's connections, the details of this year's transit and the modern relevance of making accurate transit observations.
Speaker: Charles Barclay, Director, Blackett Observatory, Marlborough College and Associate Fellow, Green Templeton College.
Charles Barclay is Director of the Blackett Observatory at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, an academic visitor in Oxford Astrophysics and Associate Fellow of Green Templeton College. At the forefront of UK Astronomy education, he chairs the Royal Astronomical Society education committee and is chair of examiners for Edexcel GCSE Astronomy.
Suitable for age 10 upwards. All welcome. Entry FREE.
Please note that registration is essential if you wish to attend this lecture. Register here.
Venue: Martin Wood Lecture Theatre, Martin Wood Building, Parks Road, Oxford.