2004 transit of Venus

This June 8, 2004, file photo shows the transit of Venus, which occurs when the planet Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun. Venus will cross the face of the sun on Tuesday, a sight that will be visible from parts of Earth. This is the last transit for more than 100 years. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu,File)

MOORHEAD Astronomy enthusiasts around the area are gearing up for an event today that wont happen again for another 105 years.

Starting a little bit after 5 p.m., the orbit of planet Venus will take it directly in front of the sun, blocking out a small portion of its light as it crosses between the Earth and the sun a transit of Venus, as astronomers call it.

To the naked eye, though, it wont be that noticeable without special solar eclipse glasses needed to look into the sun.

Unlike last months solar eclipse, which blocked out more than 50 percent of the sun, Venus will only block out roughly 1 percent, said Juan Cabanela, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

To assist the public with safely viewing the rare solar event, MSUM and the F-M Astronomy Club have scheduled a public viewing with telescopes and other special equipment, which Cabanela said will make the transit absolutely crystal clear.

The event wont happen again until December 2117, but Cabanela said this is actually the second time its occurred in our lifetime, most recently taking place just eight years ago.

The transits occur in cycles, he said, happening twice in eight years, followed by a 105- or 107-year period, depending on the year. The reason for the odd cycles and the rarity of the event, Cabanela said, is because Venus travels around the sun differently than does Earth.

Venus orbit isnt perfectly lined up with ours, he said. When Venus is between the Earth and the sun, its usually a little bit below or above the sun.

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MSUM right spot to see Venus transit