TRANSIT OF VENUS SOLD OUT
The transit of Venus event sessions at Sydney Observatory are now sold out. However, Captain Cook Cruises is offering a Transit of Venus breakfast cruise in association with Sydney Observatory. Powerhouse Museum curator, Dr Des Barrett, will accompany the cruise to provide guests with an informative commentary about the transit.
Following is information for those who have already booked tickets for the event at Sydney Observatory.
Sydney Observatory is the ideal place from which to witness the historic transit of Venus on 6 June 2012 (weather permitting). We are equipped with solar telescopes and binoculars with solar filter- through which it is safe to look at the Sun. Our astronomers will be on hand to help you get the most from this ‘last chance in a lifetime’ event. Each person booked into a session or day pass will receive a pair of safe solar viewing glasses.
The buzz of transit of Venus at Sydney Observatory on 8 June 2004
There were three ticketed sessions: 7:30am to 9:30am, 10am to 12.30pm, and 1pm to 3pm. There were also a small number of limited day pass tickets which include all three sessions. Tickets were non-refundable and had to be pre-booked and pre-paid. If the sky is unclear, it will not be possible to transfer tickets to other sessions. However, we will have a video feed to share experiences of the transit from other locations, and special displays and programs to provide a rich experience even if we are unable to see the transit directly due to clouds.
Prices for single sessions: Adult $36, Child $28, Member adult $30, Member child $26.
Prices for all day passes: Adult $85, Member adult $80.
On arrival you will be given a coloured wrist band valid only for the time you have chosen, a pair of viewing glasses and a souvenir observation pass. Sydney Observatory will have a number of telescopes outside the main observatory equipped for safe solar viewing and projection. Please note: that First, Second, Third and Fourth contact will be shown on a screen and as a projection.
You will be asked to record your observations and may be photographed during the event as there are sure to be media on-site.
Every session will include:
- Free Transit viewing glasses for each person booked
- An introductory talk on the transit of Venus
- A 3D Space Theatre session
- A special speaker has been invited to deliver a 30 minute presentation relating to the Transit inside the marquee. Dr Andrew Jacob, astronomy curator, will be providing regular updates.
- Access to a telescope to view the transit of Venus (weather dependent).
- Should the weather be inclement we will be aiming to show a direct feed from another site in Australia or off-shore.
- Access to Sydney Observatory exhibition.
Tickets will not be refunded or exchanged. Should there have been an error in your ticket purchase you must telephone Sydney Observatory within 48 hours of your purchase time.
Refreshments will be available for purchase and merchandise (T-shirts, extra glasses and the transit of Venus book) can be pre-purchased to ensure availability.
Souvenir long-sleeve and short-sleeve T-shirts are available for purchase with your ticket and separately online. These will also be available form Sydney Observatory, however, pre-purchase is the only way to guarantee your size and style choice is available. Please make sure you choose carefully. Buy your T-shirt online.
Sydney Observatory was a hub of transit of Venus activities in 2004 – with hundreds of visitors and hearty media interest. You too can enjoy this historic event with us this year when the entire 2012 transit of Venus will be visible from Sydney from 8.16am to 2.44pm if the sky is clear.
Why is the transit of Venus important?
The transit of Venus is important scientifically and historically because it enabled the measurement of the distance of the Earth to the Sun – and so to determine the scale of the solar system.
Visitors safely viewing the 2004 transit of Venus through a solar telescope at Sydney Observatory
It was Edmond Halley, of Halley’s Comet fame, who in 1716 predicted that careful observation of the start and finish of the transit of Venus across the Sun from different places on Earth would enable these calculations – although he never lived to see one himself.
Solar telescopes set up to view the 2004 transit of Venus at Sydney Observatory
Captain James Cook led an expedition starting in 1768 aboard His Majesty’s Bark ‘Endeavour’ to view the transit of Venus from Tahiti on 3 June 1769. After the transit, Cook opened a special sealed envelope containing orders from the Admiralty to search the south Pacific for a large southern continent. And so it was, on his return to England from Tahiti, that he sailed up the eastern coast of what he was soon to claim as British territory – and which would come to be known as Australia. So, Australia is deeply linked to this rare celestial event.
