The Venus Transit, a natural phenomenon where Venus, Earth and the Sun align in a straight line for several hours, could be seen all throughout the world today (weather-permitting), including those in the Eugene-Springfield area. The event happens in pairs approximately every 117 years, with eight years separating each Transit. The first part of this century’s transit occured in 2004. The previous Transit occurred in 1874 and 1882. At the University, graduate and undergraduate physics students set up a viewing station near the EMU. The Transit comes about two and a half weeks after a annular solar eclipse was visible to Oregonians.
The 2012 Venus Transit was visible to people all over the planet, Tuesday night. The event makes Venus appear silhouetted against the sun and only occurs every 117 years when Venus, Earth and the Sun all align in a straight line for a about six and a half hours. (Nate Barrett/Oregon Daily Emerald)
