Celebrate Venus, bringer of peace (From Gazette & Herald)

Celebrate Venus, bringer of peace

A RARE astronomical event next week will be marked in Scarborough by an outdoor party with music and fireworks.

The happening, last seen 122 years ago, is the transit of Venus, in which the planet Venus is seen to cross the sun's surface. And to mark the occasion, the Scarborough and District Astronomical Society is organising the party on Tuesday, June 8, at Oliver's Mount, at the War Memorial, Scarborough, from 6am to 12.30pm.

The start of the transit will be marked in a special way, with a countdown followed by The Fanfare for the Common Man, composed by Aaron Copland (1900-1990), and other music. A large fireworks display will mark the end at 12.23pm.

At 6.19am, as the transit begins, 122 pigeons, sacred to the Roman goddess after whom the planet is named, will be released to commemorate the 122 years since the last transit of Venus in 1882.

Birds belonging to the dove family have also been associated with peace. It is fitting therefore that the 122 birds will fly from the War Memorial. During the last 122 years, there have been two world wars and other conflicts, and the Oliver's Mount monument symbolises all the people of Scarborough who have given their lives in the cause of peace during those years.

The shadow of the obelisk will be used as a marker to indicate the time on a large 'transit clock' which is to be laid out on the ground.

Full coverage of the event, with running commentaries, will be given, and the astronomical society hopes to have a full screen projection of the transit, weather permitting.

In addition, the society hopes to have many telescopes projecting the image of the sun safely onto screens for everyone to see. Some of the telescopes will be equipped with proper solar filters for the public to view the transit in safety. Filter shades, to assist in naked-eye observations of Venus silhouetted against the sun, will also be available.

There will also be an opportunity to observe the transit from Low Dalby on the day, from 9am to 12.30pm.

The public is asked to assemble at the visitor centre. Members of the astronomical society will be on hand in the courtyard with telescopes, to show visitors the transit as it takes place.

The Eyecare Trust has warned people to take care when viewing astronomical phenomenon the transit of Venus, due to take place on Tuesday, June 8. They advise using a homemade pinhole card to protect the eyes from the glare of the event, which goes on from 6.20am to midday. For more information, visit the trust's website at www.eyecaretrust.org.uk.

Updated: 11:52 Wednesday, June 02, 2004