Transit of Venus: Update

This last Saturday November 19 was exactly 200 days until the last transit of Venus. The event is gaining momentum now: it’s being featured in journals of science education, in astronomical calendars for 2012, and Sky & Telescope will kick off its transit coverage in January. New publications are released, like the latest book by Nick Lomb.

Transit of Venus: 1631 to the Present

This month a new book on the transit of Venus was published: Transit of Venus: 1631 to the Present. Written by Nick Lomb, former curator of astronomy at Sydney Observatory. It’s a beautiful work, larded with large pictures and covering the entire history of the transit of Venus, from the first prediction by Johannes Kepler up to our own experiences in 2004. Nick also gives advice for observing the next transit in 2012 and discusses the importance of this transit to modern astronomy. An absolute must-read! For more information see http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/2011/transit-of-venus-the-book/ or our review of the book at http://transitofvenus.nl/wp/2011/11/03/nick-lombs-new-book/

Transit of Venus workbook now in print

On our education resources page, we list numerous resources that can be used by science teachers to engage their students in observing the 2012 transit. One of these resources, the Transit of Venus: Classroom activities, is now available in print. In forty problems, students get acquainted with the mechanics and periodicity of the transit, measuring distances using parallax and finding exoplanets analysing light curves of other stars. Though the workbook remains available as free download, we thought it beneficial for teachers if it also would possible to obtain hardcopies. The workbooks are printed in black-and-white and have a full-colour cover. To order, please go to Lulu.com: https://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyContent=11758287

Testing the phone app

The free phone app that is being developed will soon be tested by a number of you. The phone app is an instrumental tool in our effort to measure the sun’s distance using the observed times of start and/or end of the transit. Not only will it act as stopwatch, allowing you to find the times at which the limbs of Venus and the sun touch, it will also feature a simulation of the transit giving you the opportunity to practise. Next month, the test panel will give feedback on how the stopwatch and the simulation work. It’s still possible to join the test panel! It’s a unique chance to get a preview of the app and to propose improvements. For more information, take a look at http://transitofvenus.nl/wp/getting-involved/phone-app/ or contact me at s.vanroode@transitofvenus.nl

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