TROVE: Celebrating the Riches of the TRansit Of VEnus

Last Updated on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:41

Poster for promoting 2012 Transit of Venus eventsTreasure Trove Logo

The Michiana community will be the Midwest hub for attractions that celebrate the 2012 transit of Venus, a rare celestial phenomenon in which Venus passes directly in front of the sun. The transit of Venus has a storied past and an engaging future, with the June 5, 2012, event being the last one in our lifetimes.  We invite you to join the festivities, either as a featured destination or as a visitor, as we eagerly embrace this solar spectacle.

Next TROVE Meeting: Thursday, February 23, at 7:00 p.m.,
Location: Notre Dame Digital Visualization Theater (DVT) in Jordan Hall of Science

Nitzschke's illustration of a transit at sunsetSeveral features make the region near the Michigan-Indiana border a favored destination. With the sun setting while the transit of Venus is still underway, the view over beautiful Lake Michigan is perhaps unrivaled.  Because no location in the mainland United States can guarantee clear skies, multiple transit of Venus attractions will give astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers alike plenty of reason to plan their visit here.  Among the anticipated highlights:

A crowd observes the 2004 transit of Venus in Mishawaka, IN; image courtesy of Ralph Garhart

Most people are not familiar with the transit of Venus, yet it has historically garnered tremendous popular appeal as the celestial alignment approaches.  The last transit of Venus was visible from the United States only on the eastern portion of the country moments after sunrise.  Television news anchors wear solar shades during broadcast of story about Transit of VenusYet Google's Zeitgesit feature, which aggregates search queries to take a pulse of global interests, declared Venus Transit to be the #1 Most Popular Event in the world for the entire month of June 2004!  This time, on the more favorable evening hours of June 5, the Michiana region will be well positioned to witness the 2012 transit of Venus.

Observing With Telescopes

Owners of telescopes with proper solar filters are invited to share the spectacle with the public on June 5, 2012, at the PHM campus.  Anticipate a public telescope workshop in May for safe solar observing instructions.

From http://transitofvenus.nl/wp/where-when/local-transit-times/ (click for interactive map):

Transit times for PHM site

Why should we care about a transit of Venus? 

The occasion is an opportunity to be seized by visitors and the community alike for several reasons:
  • If we want to be comfortable with math and science--to prosper as a nation through math and science--then we have to celebrate math and science in action.  As a community, we choose to move beyond idle talk about math and science education and to embrace it.
  • A transit of Venus is one of those revealing moments that explains how we know what we know. For example, how do we know how many miles it is to the sun and planets?  And how do we find planets capable of harboring life?  A transit of Venus answers.
  • Instead of being told all your life that the planets move around the sun, witness it!
  • A rare predictable event, the 2012 alignment will be the last transit of Venus in our lifetimes, with the next one in December 2117.  Even then, it won't be visible for most US observers, with the next good chance here occurring in December 2125.
  • Solar activity is on the rise in its regular cycle, only now our society is more susceptible to solar influence.  Seize opportunities to look safely at a solar spectacle. 
  • A regional celebration highlights the connectedness of our communities to economic development.  When a group of attractions throughout the area draw and serve enthusiastic visitors, the events boost several businesses.
  • Observers can participate in a genuine global experiment, with the transit of Venus being a front row seat to the method used by astronomers to detect distant planets.
  • A unique personal experience can singularly inspire and motivate a person, old and young alike.  Allow yourself to be impressed by nature.

Supporters

The following participants and supporters of the Transit of Venus embrace the riches of science and math in action. Please join us.

Planning

Poster for branding TROVE with bottom textThe new PHM Digital Video Theater (DVT) in Mishawaka, IN, hosted a Transit of Venus summit on November 9, 2011, and a follow-up meeting January 10, 2012.  Invited were parties from Michiana who will be part of the regional ToV celebration.  If you or your representative missed the gathering but wish to be a part of the dialogue, please contact Chuck Bueter for information.

Chuck has a calendar of local events, though it may languish as June itself nears.  Also, zoom in on the NASA event location map, for some of the locations overlap when zoomed out and are not visible then.

Posters for promoting TROVE events are at /education/80-trove/322-posters, or click the template for the TROVE signature poster (right).

Directions to PHM Digital Theater

The Digital Video Theater (DVT) is located within Bittersweet Elementary School, which is just north of Penn High School. From the school corporation's office building (Educational Service Center (ESC)) on Bittersweet Rd., go east on the driveway to Bittersweet School on the left.

Note: Several mapping services (Google, Bing, etc.) incorrectly mark Bittersweet School as being literally on Bittersweet Road, just south of McKinley Ave.

Satellite map of aerial approach to PHM Digital Video Theater (DVT)See http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qydg217tqxs0&lvl=18.213472132516717&dir=4.722599367318484&sty=b&ss=yp.planetarium~pg.1~rad.0,225750797931635&form=LMLTCC for an aerial view of the approach to the school.