Venus was in transit across the sun when dawn broke yesterday morning.

Clouds covered the rising sun till 7:20 a.m. and then a mad scramble ensued to see this once in a lifetime event.

Contrary to our previous advice, the pinhole projection method image was too small to show Venus. Normally this method works with an eclipsed sun.

Using an eight-inch telescope fitted with a solar screen an exciting image was formed, however. Venus was a jet black circle a quarter-inch in diameter outlined against an eight-inch white circle which was the sun.

Theory would suggest that Venus?s atmosphere would produce a fuzzy-edged circle but to this observer the sharpness of the outline was crisp.

The cloud delayed event was almost over when we got our first glimpse of Venus, now well towards the sun?s outer edge.

It only remained now to admire the image presented and to await the planet?s contact with the sun?s limb ? this happened at 8:06 a.m.

It was now possible to see the movement of Venus as she quickly slid over the outer edge of the sun and to pass completely out of sight at 8:16 a.m.

The cycle will be repeated in eight years and then not again for another 105 years.

Before yesterday?s event, no one alive had seen a Venus transit. I wonder how many people saw this one.

See related story on Page 62