A rare celestial phenomenon known as the transit of Venus will occur in Hawaii on June 5, and several local institutions are making plans to educate the public about the event and make sure people enjoy it safely.
The transit of Venus is when the planet, as viewed from Earth, crosses the sun. It will begin at 12:10 p.m. and end at 6:45 p.m.
Hawaii and Alaska are the only states where the entire transit — Venus entering and leaving the disk of the sun — can be seen, since the sun will have set on the continent before the transit is completed. No transit of Venus occurred in the 20th century, and one in 2004 was not viewable from Hawaii. There will not be another transit for 105 years.
A free panel discussion about the event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Art Auditorium on the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus, featuring experts from the Institute for Astronomy. Astronomer Paul Coleman will discuss Hawaii’s role during the 1874 transit of Venus; solar physicist Shadia Habbal will focus on the sun and its connection to Venus and Earth; Peter Mouginis-Mark will speak about Venus itself; and Roy Gal will talk about the upcoming transit. Free solar viewers that will protect viewers’ eyes from sun damage will be distributed.
Bishop Museum will host a "Transit of Venus" festival on June 5, which will include programs at Watumull Planetarium, telescopes with solar filters, astronomy activities for kids and webcasts of the transit. All programs are included in the regular museum admission price. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Solar viewers will also be given out June 5 at three Oahu sites, which will also host educational events.
» In Waikiki, toward the Diamond Head end of Kalakaua Avenue, screens will display a webcast of the transit from Mauna Kea and Haleakala, and science and technology activities will be available.
» At Ko Olina Resort near Lagoon 4, the educational organization Stars Above Hawaii and amateur astronomers will be available.
» The Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor will stay open until dusk and set up a portable planetarium for viewing. (For nonmilitary personnel, parking at the Pacific Aviation Museum must be reserved by emailing the year, make, model and license plate number of the car, and an official identification number for each adult in the vehicle to SpecialEvents@pacificaviationmuseum.org or by calling the museum at 441-1007.Museum tickets will be available at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, where a free shuttle bus also is available.)
For more information on the transit of Venus, visit ifa.hawaii.edu/transit.
