Author Archives: emily

Transiting the midnight sun

Posted on June 11, 2012 by emily

Watch nearly seven hours of transit time in less than twenty seconds! This time lapse movie from ESA TV shows the transit of Venus as experienced under the midnight sun, 78 degrees north from the Arctic island of Svalbard. Interference … Continue reading →

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Our last transit of Venus, the movie

Posted on June 8, 2012 by emily

The anticipation and excitement of watching the transit of Venus under the midnight Sun in the high northern latitudes of Svalbard is portrayed nicely in this short film by Lightcurve Films, in association with the European Planetology Network. Lightcurve Films … Continue reading →

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Hinode’s view of the transit

Posted on June 7, 2012 by emily

The international Sun-watching spacecraft Hinode caught this stunning view of Venus entering the solar disc on 5-6 June. More Hinode transit images are available here.

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The transit from Budapest

Posted on June 6, 2012 by emily

Some of our Mars Express colleagues holding a meeting in Budapest this week were treated to clear skies for the transit during sunrise. Here are some views of their experience.

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Last contact for 105 years

Posted on June 6, 2012 by emily

After seven hours of dedicated observing – often grabbing opportunities between breaks in the cloud – our Svalbard team watched Venus leave the solar disc. The next transit of Venus will not be visible from Earth until 2117.

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Venus Express and the transit of Venus

Posted on June 6, 2012 by emily

ESA’s Venus Express project scientist Håkan Svedhem observes the transit of Venus from Svalbard as Venus Express – the only spacecraft orbiting Venus at the moment – prepares to take its solar occultation measurements. During these measurements sunlight will filter … Continue reading →

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Proba-2′s ringside seat

Posted on June 6, 2012 by emily

Proba-2 continues to watch the solar spectacular from its ringside seat in low-Earth orbit.    

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Transit of Venus on ESA TV!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by emily

Our luck continues in Svalbard and between patchy cloud we are being treated to splendid views of Venus as it passes in front of the Sun. Here’s a shot through the ESA TV camera…look closely, it’s approaching the 11 o’clock … Continue reading →

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“We got it!”

Posted on June 5, 2012 by emily

It may be cloudy, but we were still able to see some of the first moments of the 2012 transit of Venus here in Svalbard thanks to ESAC’s Michel Breitfellner and Miguel Perez Ayucar, who have solar and optical telescopes equipped with … Continue reading →

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Proba-2 sees Venus approach the Sun

Posted on June 5, 2012 by emily

Proba-2′s SWAP imager sees clearly the first signs of the Venus disc in its field of view, at 1945 UT. The Venus disc projection is visible at a distance a little less than 1 solar radii; note this is not … Continue reading →

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