Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Transit of Venus

The Planet Venus had two names for the ancient Greeks; Hesperus was the evening star and Phosphorus was the morning star. The Maya called the second planet from the sun Noh Ek or the Great Star" as well as Xux Ek or the Wasp Star. Most people in the modern age identify the Evening Star as a star instead of a planet. Whenever I correct them, they argue their claim with the bliss of ignorance. Yesterday Venus made headlines around the world, as the planet transited across the face of the sun, which won't occur again until 2117.

Most of the day the New York sky was overcast, however at sunset the clouds cleared for a few minutes. I stood on the Hudson and stared at the sun for the briefest of second. The brilliance of its glow blinded my vision. Any longer and the damage could have been permanent, so I deferred to see the phenomena of Venis in Transit via the magic of the internet and read the gushing praise of astronomers of visually seeing a planet in motion.

They really know how to make much ado about nothing.

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