Viewing Venus Crossing the Sun in San Diego

During the transit, Venus will appear as a beauty mark moving across the face of the sun

For just a few hours after 3 p.m. Tuesday, San Diegans will have the chance of a lifetime - to see Venus cross the sun. 

Watch live here

"In terms of rarity, to be here at a time when it's happening, you almost have to look at it," said Geoff Chester of the U.S. Naval Observatory. "It ain't going to happen again in my lifetime."

The last occurance was in 2004 and San Diegans didn’t have the chance to see it. In fact, the entire west coast of the U.S. missed out. If you’re too busy tonight, you’re out of luck. The next event won’t occur for another 105 years.

During the transit, Venus will appear as a beauty mark moving across the face of the sun.

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The transit will involve a 6-hour, 40-minute span starting just after 3 p.m.

Because the transit will take place during and after sunset here in San Diego, we won’t be able to see the exit from our vantage point.

If you want to catch a glimpse you should only look at the celestial event with a properly filtered telescope or cardboard eclipse glasses.

If viewed directly, permanent eye damage could result.

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is selling solar shades at the center’s Science Store for only $2.

Our media partner the North County Times reports that Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College will offer solar telescopes for viewing to members of the public at no charge.

Here's an overview of the timing, but if you check out this website, you can get a down-to-the-minute schedule along with a nifty graphic showing the path Venus will take across the Sun's face.

NASA will be webcasting live from Hawaii starting at 5:30 P.M. EST at

this site

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