A rare astronomical event – a transit of Venus – will be visible in Iceland thanks to the country’s high latitudinal location on Earth.
A transit of Venus occurs when the planet passes in front of the Sun, creating a silhouette visible from Earth. The event occurs once every approximately 243 years, in pairs usually about eight years apart.
The previous transit occurred in 2004, so the upcoming transit – scheduled for 22:04 on June 5, to last about six hours – will not happen again in the lifetime of anyone currently alive on Earth.
The timing of the transit could not be better for Icelanders – during this time of the year, the sun barely sets, so the transit should be fully visible to all, weather permitting. Icelandic astronomers are already gearing up for the event, as the Astronomical Society of Seltjarnarnes is inviting the general public up on top of Perlan at 21:00 on that day to witness the transit.
Bear in mind that it is inadvisable to look directly at the Sun without some kind of protective eyewear.
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!
