The 2012 June 5-6 transit of Venus (ToV) is over, and there won't be another one till 2117! Many RASC members successfully viewed the ToV here and abroad, and you can find the graphic record of the observations―and of the astronomers making them―here.

Note: all images are copyright of the attributed photographers and graphic artists, and must not be used without prior permission

The weather forecast called for rain, but the crowd of over 300 visitors to the RASC Montreal Centre Transit of Venus party got a lucky break. The skies stayed clear for the first contact of Venus’ disc on the solar disc, and all in all we captured about 45 minutes of the transit before the clouds rolled in.

The skies over Atlantic Canada and New England states were filled with a massive cloud. After squirming in anguish for several days, I told my very understanding partner on the morning of June 4th: "If we are to have any chance to see the transit, we have to leave today and drive north through New Brunswick."  "Well," said Beverly, "we'd better start packing."  We picked up grandson Darien after school.  "Come on," I said, "We're going on a scientific expedition." The 13-year-old lad didn't take long joining up. We crossed the Confederation bridge to New Brunswick and headed northwest. Throughout the day the skies remained cloudy. As evening fell we saw tantalizing bits of brighter sky to the north. It was raining a bit when we pulled up to the hotel late Monday night.  We spent the night in Grand Falls and headed north again at around 09:30. We crossed into Quebec in rain and turned left onto route 20 heading west. By noon the skies were clearing ahead of us, and by the time we reached Quebec City it was a sunny afternoon.

We checked in to the Holiday Inn with a nice view to the west.  For the next five hours I watched in horror as the sky filled with cloud.  I was getting as depressed as poor old le Gentil! Around 22:00 UT Bev said she could see the sun.  Just as the transit was due Darien and I went outside to check out the sky.  We saw the sun!  I put on my viewing glasses and saw Venus.  Then I handed them to Darien and told him to look at the sun. "Can you see Venus?" I asked. "Yeah I see it - Cool!"  I quickly set up my scope for some up-close viewing.  We all had a lovely view and were joined by a curious young couple from the Magdalene Islands.  At about 22:30 UT I set up my scope with my Canon AE1 for a photo. I'm really pleased with the result.  Shortly after that I used the viewing glasses again for another look.  The clouds had just moved back to block the sun.