TRANSIT OF VENUS JUNE 8, 2003: CONTACTS

When discussing the transit of Venus we use the term "contact": first contact", "second contact", and so on. What does it mean?

The track shows when and how Venus will cross the solar disk.
Illustration: Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo.

In short the contacts are the times when the brim of Venus touches the brim of the Sun as viewed from a particular location on the Earth.

During the transit Venus is moving between the Sun and the Earth and can be viewed as a small black dot on the very bright solar disk. The exact times when Venus enters the disk and when it is leaving the disk are important.

The contacts describe this:

1. First Contact: The brim of Venus touches the solar brim for the first time. In Oslo this will happen at 07.19.17 am, at Svalbard at 07:17:41 am, local time.
2. Second contact: The disk of Venus is inside the solar brim.
3. Third Contact: Venus begin to leave the solar disk. The brim of Venus touches the solar brim.
4. Fourth/Last: The brim of Venus touches the brim of the Sun for the last time. In Oslo this will happen at 13:22:26 and on Svalbard at 13:21:02.

This historic event lasts for just over 6 hours, but it is still of interest to measure the contacts as accurately as possible. In addition to the excitement of watching something no living human has ever seen, it is exciting to measure these times.

CONTACT INFORMATION - PRESS CONTACT