Members of Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association at a training programme on the use of a telescope in connection with Venus’ transit. Picture by Eastern Projections

June 1: Excitement runs high among the astronomy-minded in the city as they get ready to keep their date with the “transit of Venus,” the first celestial event of this century.

To mark the occasion, several organisations have come forward to enable people to view the once-in-a-lifetime show. The “transit of Venus”, taking place after an interval of 121 years, will be visible for six hours through telescope.

In the forefront is the Regional Science Centre. Its project coordinator, S. Jeelani, said arrangements have been made for visitors on June 8, the day when Venus and the sun will be on the same axis resulting in partial eclipse of the sun.

“We are also making arrangements to project the solar disc during the transit of the Venus with the four-inch Zeiss refracting telescope the same day”, Jeelani added.

Former principal of Cotton College and project coordinator of the Centre for Radio Astronomy (CRA), department of physics, Anil Kumar Goswami said the event would occur after 121 years and six months.

“According to records, this celestial event last occurred in December 1882,” Goswami said. He added that the eclipse would be in the form of a black path over the sun as viewed from the Earth. According to astrophysicists, the eclipse will be visible from many parts of the world but mostly from Asia.

“In India it will be visible from 10.33 am to 4.55 pm.” he said.

Goswami added that a pair of these events occur at an interval of eight years, but is visible for only a small period of time. “The June 8 occurance is a rare celestial event because it is the only major event in this century”, Goswami said.

The Science Centre has organised a popular lecture on June 7 to generate awareness among school students and other participants.

Secretary of Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomer’s Association, Uday Narayan Deka will deliver the lecture.

Officials of the centre are expecting an enthusiastic response from students and the residents on the day. “We hope that many people would be eager to view Venus crossing the sun in the same axis”, an official said.

The Assam Institute Of Engineers (India) is also organising a lecture on June 4 on the topic “Venus transition — an extraterrestrial event”, which will be addressed by eminent scientist and former vice-chancellor of Gauhati University, Prof. H.. Duorah.