Lost in transit: clouds obscure once-in-lifetime sight

By John Van Klaveren
GEELONG Showgrounds became the centre of the local astronomical universe for a few hours on Wednesday.
Geelong Astronomy Club set up six telescopes to capture the transit of Venus across the Sun, a two-in-243-year event.
Club president Frank Baker said cloud cover obscured the view but members still managed worthwhile glimpses.
“We had a few visitors and interested onlookers and it’s attracted quite a bit of attention.
“Some of our members got some very good shots and others went as far as Guildford to get some pretty good images.”
Mr Baker said the planet appeared as a tiny disc passing across the face of the Sun.
Transits of Venus are among the rarest of astronomical events. A pair of transits occurs eight years apart every 121.5 or 105.5 years.
The next transits of Venus will be in December 2117 and December 2125.
Scientists use the transit to further study planetary bodies outside the solar system.