2012 has been an interesting year of spectacular astronomical events – from the gigantic supermoon to the perfect eclipse, today we make way for the prettiest planet of all to make her scheduled crossing across the sun… Venus is in transit.
It would be the second time that the Earth’s sister planet passes between us and the sun this century, as the Venus transit always occurs in pairs, 8 years apart. The first one occurred in 2004, and after 2012, we won’t see her transit again in our lifetime, as her next booking will only be in 2117!
Science On Venus
A rare (predictable) astronomical phenomena that occurs every 121.5 or so years, during a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the Sun, taking approximately 6 hours (as recorded in 2004) to complete its tour.
The first recorded observation of a transit of Venus was by astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks in England in December of 1639. Similar to the moon’s solar eclipse, Venus will however appear much smaller given its size, and appears to travel slowly across the face of the Sun as it is much further away from Earth.
This year, the transit will assist astronomers and scientists to measure dips in the brightness of stars and find planets outside of the solar system, also known as exoplanets, as well as their sizes. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists will also be able to use the moon as a mirror to cast light onto Venus to study its atmosphere.
Love and Light
Named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, planet Venus is often known as the Morning Star and the Bringer of Light. Between the first and second transits of her journey, the five retrograde cycles of Venus around the sun, if traced, forms the shape of the pentagram, the five-pointed star.
According to Astrolink’s Rose Marcus, this measurement is akin to the mathematician’s quintile (division of fifths), and symbolizes a creative transformation as theorized by the ancient Mayans, whose calendar was based on Venus cycles.
“Many consider the momentous Venus in Gemini transit in June, 2012 as a key marker of a new 2600 year cycle of humanity,” wrote Rose. “In short, it suggests the energizing of the feminine creator in her one-ness or all-ness. The solarized feminine creator is all encompassing.”
Astrologer Govinda Miller sees the transit as an awakening of the divine feminine energies in our world. “As the Divine Feminine energy interfaces with human consciousness, it awakens and expands compassion within our hearts, and emotional healing can occur for all of Humanity. Compassion awakens the ability to feel and express unconditional love.”
What does the Transit Of Venus mean to you and are you able to witness this mystic event? How have the past few astronomical events affected your life or your outlook, if so?
