The spectacular transit of Venus

 

In pictures: The spectacular transit of Venus

Stargazers from across the globe looked on in awe as Venus passed in front of the sun - 

a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle that won't be observed again for another 105 years. 

The closing stages of the phenomenon were briefly visible over the UK from 5.37am Wed 6th June.

 

 

1: The Solar Dynamic Observatory's view of Venus passing in front of the sun. 

The near-seven-hour passage began shortly after 10pm BST on Tuesday in parts of North America, 

Central America and the northern part of South America.

 

2: Venus makes its transit across the Sun as seen from Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Astronomers believe that the rare transit has occurred more than 50 times since 2000 BC.

 

3: The planet Venus makes its transit across the face of the sun on Tuesday and into Wednesday - 

the last such passing that will be visible from Earth for 105 years. All of the transit was visible in 

East Asia and the Western Pacific, although poor weather conditions spoiled the view for some.

 

4: The planet Venus is seen as a small black dot as it makes its transit across the sun over Amman, Jordan.

 

5: A student uses a solar viewer to protect his eyes while observing the transit of Venus at 

National Science Museum in Gwacheon, Seoul, South Korea.

 

6: People wear solar viewers to watch the planet Venus transiting across the sun in the eastern Gulf coast town of Qatif, Saudi Arabia.

 

7: A bird comes into land on top one of the domes of the landmark Taj Mahal as Venus passes in front of the sun in Agra, India.

 

8: People in Amman, Jordan, make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime event. Europe, the Middle East 

and South Asia got to see the end of the celestial phenomenon, while North America saw the opening stages.

 

9: A jet plane crosses the sky as Venus passes the sun as seen through a coelostat - 

a solar telescope - at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California.

 

10: The planet Venus passes in front of the sun as it begins to set behind the Goddess of Liberty on top of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas.

 

11: A bird stands on the Martyrs' Statue as the planet Venus makes its transit across the sun in Beirut, Lebanon.

 

12: People wearing solar viewers look up to the sky to watch Venus pass the sun at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California.

 

13:Clouds partially obscure the sun during the transit of Venus as seen from Riverside Park, New York City.