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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Venus Transits the Midnight Sun
NASA ^ | June 20, 2012 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 06/20/2012 3:41:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Today's solstice, the astronomical beginning of summer in the north, is at 23:09 UT when the Sun reaches the northernmost declination in its yearly trek through planet Earth's sky. While most in the northern hemisphere will experience the longest day of the year, for some the Sun won't set at all, still standing just above the horizon at midnight as far south as about 66.6 degrees northern latitude. Of course, as summer comes to the north the midnight Sun comes earlier to higher latitudes. Recorded near midnight, this time series from June 6 follows the Sun gliding above a mountainous horizon from a latitude of 69 degrees north. The remarkable scene looks north over the Norwegian Sea from Sortland, Norway. The 2012 transit of Venus is already in progress, with Earth's sister planet in silhouette at the upper left against the bright disk of the midnight Sun.

June 20, 2012

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; midnight; midnightsun; norway; science; sun; transit; transits; venus
[Credit & Copyright: Babak Tafreshi (TWAN)]

1 posted on 06/20/2012 3:41:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

2 posted on 06/20/2012 3:41:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

“And we’ll have sun! sun! sun!
Til her daddy takes the solstice away”


3 posted on 06/20/2012 3:46:38 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: SunkenCiv

Somehow that picture reminds me of Chanukah!


4 posted on 06/20/2012 3:51:42 PM PDT by left that other site
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To: SunkenCiv

That’s a picture to keep for the Venus transit alone, since we won’t see it again for 105 years.

It really is lovely in the larger version on the APOD site. Venus is clearly visible. Amazing.

Thank you, Mr. Civilizations.


5 posted on 06/21/2012 4:03:27 PM PDT by TheOldLady
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