Count down to the Venus transit.  I have everything ready and I hope the weather will play along.  Sometimes it feels like Mother Nature says “Hmmmm…how can I annoy Norman this time.”  Really, I can’t tell you how many times a great astronomical event comes along and the one lone cloud in the sky blocks the event.  Yes, this has actually happened to me.  Hours of preparation down the tubes and then you get to watch it on YouTube.  I’m not sure about the rest of you, but there is nothing like doing your own observing.  Seeing events in real time is the ultimate.  If only watching a sunset or a moonrise was as big a draw as a football, basketball or baseball game, everyone would be into astronomy.  The image below from NASA shows when you can see the transit from the west coast.  Remember to never look at the Sun without protection.  It will damage your eyes!  Good viewing!

Featured image credit: Paul Hyndman

– Ex astris, scientia –