Explanation: This dramatic telephoto view across the Black Sea on June 6 finds Venus rising with the Sun, the planet in silhouette against a ruddy and ragged solar disk. Of course, the reddened light is due to scattering in planet Earth's atmosphere and the rare transit of Venus didn't influence the strangely shaped and distorted Sun. In fact, seeing the Sun in the shape of an Etruscan Vase is relatively common, especially compared to Venus transits. At sunset and sunrise, the effects of atmospheric refraction enhanced by long, low, sight lines and strong atmospheric temperature gradients produce the visual distortions and mirages. That situation is often favored by a sea horizon.
Friday, June 08, 2012
THIS AWESOME PHOTO IS FROM THE June 6, NASA Astronomy Pic of the Day, of the transit of the planet Venus across the Sun, an event which occurs every 120 years. Here is NASA's description:
Posted by Carlos at Friday, June 08, 2012