Astrophotography from Eagle Hill

Transit of Venus across the Sun, viewed from Eagle Hill, June 5th, 2012

These photographs were taken from the summit of Eagle Hill in Steuben, Maine, on June 5th, 2012. It was a very cloudy day, so there were only brief glimpses of Venus through the cloudcover. This resulted in these very dramatic photos.

The Sun is silver almost like the moon while a black dot (Venus) and clouds pass in front of it.

Golden sunset photo showing the transit of Venus. Venus is a tiny black dot almost as small as a pixel in front of a bright glowing Sun.

Black sky and clouds with a deep red Sun. Venus is a black dot in front of the Sun

Photos © by Ahti Launis of Lithuania, an Eagle Hill alumnus.

A transit of Venus occurs when Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth. This alignment is rare, coming in pairs that are eight years apart but separated by over a century.

Past transits of Venus

December 9, 1874
December 6, 1882

June 8, 2004
June 5, 2012

Next transits of Venus

December 11th, 2117
December 8th, 2125