This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Today offers a final opportunity for 21st century stargazers to observe a transit of Venus. For those of you who forgot to bring your telescope to work today, we've got a guide for viewing the transit both indoors and outside.
DIY Viewing
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If the weather is cooperating and you've got your pinhole projector in hand, you can definitely head out to see the transit on your own. Folks in North America north of 67 degrees latitude (meaning Northern Canada and Alaska) can watch the entire transit. Most of the lower 48 will be able to catch much of the transit towards sunset today. A good overview site for more information is transitofvenus.org.
Planetary Parties
There are meatspace events across the country (and around the world) for viewing the transit. Check your favorite local museum, university, or observatory, or simply stop by NASA's fairly comprehensive round up of viewing events, mapping out spots as far-flung as Hanga Roa, Easter Island and Woldlia College, Ethiopia.
Viewers in California's Bay Area can join the Lawrence Hall of Science event, where experts will be helping the curious use special eclipse-viewing glasses. New Yorkers can stop by Pier 1 at Riverside Park to join the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York (there's also an indoor event at the American Museum of Natural History). Whether you're at the Kansas Cosmosphere, the Pensacola State College Planetarium, or the Montana State Stadium, chances are there's a viewing area open to the public not far from home.
Rain Checked?
But if you can't make it outside today, fear not. Here's a selection of online options for viewing, many of which have been handily organized on NASA's Live Venus Transit Website:
NASA EDGE in Mauna Kea, Hawaii
NASA's main NASA EDGE stream of the transit
Another live feed from NASA, carried by some cable and satellite provides
A view from the SLOOH robotic telescopealso has a countdown timer.
Fairbanks's 21 hours of sunlight should make it a great viewing area
Broadcasting from Mount Wilson Observatory in California
Also offers information about future missions to Venus
Coca-Cola Space Science Center
Broadcasting from Alice Springs, Australia, with a team in Mongolia uploading live images
Covers the transit from locations across the country
Much Hoole, UK, Horrocks Webcast
Brings together live music, 2012 observations, and historical commentary
Indian Astronomical Observatory
The highest-elevation station in the world webcasting the transit
Broadcasting from Svalbard in the Arctic and near Canberra, Australia
May provide video and images from astronauts. Hear astronaut Don Pettit discuss how he plans on photographing these unprecedented images from space