Chandigarh, May 23
In a rare celestial occurrence, Venus would be passing in front of the sun on June 8. Called the Venus Transit, the last such event occurred in 1882. The beginning of the transit would be visible from all over Asia, and Venus would be seen as a tiny speck against the bright mass of the sun.
The phenomenon, which is said to be among the rarest of astronomical events, is akin to the eclipse of the sun, when the moon passes between the earth and the sun.
Venus transits are readily visible without binoculars or telescopes, though proper protection must be employed by viewers to prevent eye damage.
