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Local News

• Pakuranga College, NZ to view transit from Carr House UK
  Winners of the Royal Society of New Zealand transit expedition from Pakuranga College will be observing the Transit of Venus from the University's Alston Observatory and Carr House. We are looking forward to hosting the winners in Preston!

• Jeremiah Horrocks Memorial Lecture series
  Wednesday 9th May, 7.30pm, Harrington Lecture Theatre

  "The Milky Way in 3D" Dr Michael Perryman, European Space Agency

  Tickets are free of charge. Please contact Jodi McNeillie on 01772 892347 for further information.

National News

• Stardate on BBC 1 and 2

  On the day of the transit the BBC will be broadcasting a series of Stardate programmes covering the event, including coverage from Carr House. Programmes are:

  • BBC 1 at 9:50
  • BBC 1 at 12:00
  • BBC 2 at 23:20

• Venus Transit 2004 from Channel 27

  On the day of the transit Channel 27, an internet radio station, are broadcasting all morning from London. Listen on the Channel 27 website.

   

• Venus across the Sun, BBC Radio 4

  On 2 June 2004 at 21:00 BBC Radio 4 are broadcasting "Venus across the Sun", recounting past expeditions to observe Transits of Venus and preparing for the 2004 Transit. If you miss it you can always "listen again" from the BBC website.

• In the news
  • Transit of Venus Across the Sun - SpaceRef.com
  • Don't miss Venus as rare beauty spot on Sun - Timesonline
  • Historic Venus tranist to be visible in Britain - Timesonline
  • Britons able to watch Venus crossing the Sun for the first time since 1283
  • Venus to give stargazers once-in-a-lifetime treat as it crosses Sun
  • Once in a lifetime
  • Venus puts on a show
  • Venus transit to be visible in Britain
  • Scientists Prepare for Rare Astronomical Event

   

• National Events calendar now available

  You can now publicise your own events on the day and in the run up to the Transit of Venus, or look for events in your area. Simply register your details and enter your events. See the Transit of Venus events pages.

   

• Jeremiah Horrocks and Transits Ancient and Modern

  Dr. Paul Marston (tutor on our Great Astronomers in History course) will be organising a history conference for students and amateurs on the weekend of the 4th-6th June 2004. This will take place at Alston Hall, adjacent to the University of Central Lancashire's Alston Observatory. See the History conference webpages.

International News

• Life on...Venus!

  There could be life on the planet Venus, US scientists have concluded. Microbes could survive floating in the thick, cloudy atmosphere, protected by a sunscreen of sulphur compounds. See the BBC News story.

• The Moon and four planets in the evening sky

  During the coming evenings, everybody under clear skies will be able to enjoy a beautiful view in the twilight. Right after sunset, planet Venus is visible as a brilliant point of light above the western horizon - and two other planets, Mars and Saturn, are seen to the left of Venus as somewhat less bright objects. More to the south and higher in the sky, planet Jupiter is also prominent. See the vt-2004 website for further information on this, including an observing chart, and the progress of the project.