Venus has just finished up an excellent appearance in the evening sky that began in November. Now the planet has disappeared into the twilight, but it will make a brief and dramatic return appearance Tuesday.
On that day, more than half the world will get to see an exceedingly rare event: Venus crossing the face of the sun at what astronomers call inferior conjunction. Observers located over parts of eastern, central and the far northern sections of North America will be able to observe at least the closing stages of this striking celestial phenomenon.
The entire transit, as it is called, will be an east-to-west passage taking just over 6 hours and 12 minutes. www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5138018