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5. Seeing the transit of Venus from different hemispheres

© National Maritime Museum, London

Repro ID: venus_5
Title: 5. Seeing the transit of Venus from different hemispheres
Description: Observers at different latitudes on the Earth will see the transit occur across different parts of the Sun. An observer in the northern hemisphere might see Venus against the southern half of the Sun. However, an observer in the south might see Venus against the northern half of the Sun. Astronomers can measure the path of Venus across the Sun from different latitudes and then apply geometry to calculate the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Essentially, a transit of Venus allows us to survey our solar system and determine its size by using the whole Earth as a baseline.
Creator: Jim O'Donnell
Date: 2004

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