Eclipse
"Venus has just finished up an excellent appearance in the evening sky that began in November. Now the planet disappeared into the twilight, but it will make a brief and dramatic return appearance Tuesday, June 8.
On that day, more than half the world will get to see an exceedingly rare even, Venus crossing the face of the Sun at what astronomers call inferior conjunction. Observers located over parts of eastern, central and far-northern sections of North America will be able to observe at least the closing stages of this striking celestial phenomenon with either their unaided eyes or with binoculars and small telescopes.
The entire transit, as it is called, will be an east-to-west passage taking just over 6 hours and 12 minutes.
The Sun will be above the horizon for the entire transit for most of Europe and Asia, as well as from the eastern two-thirds of Africa. The Sun sets with Venus still on its disk for Indonesia, Japan and Australia.
The event is already in progress when the Sun rises across much of eastern Canada and the central and eastern United States. For the contiguous United States, locations east of a line running roughly from Havre, Montana south and east to Galveston, Texas should be able to see the transit. Those to the west of this line are left out.
States which will miss the transit include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
The end of the transit may also be observed from the Islands of the Caribbean, as well as much of the northern and central portions of South America. "
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