Transit of Venus – one of the rarest occurrences in the Universe was witnessed by millions of people across the globe today. The long awaited event satiated the curiosity of millions when the planet Venus started transiting between the Sun and Earth and passed through both the bodies, which is called the Venus Transit.

Officials and Representatives of the Udaipur Solar Observatory, Department of Science and Technology (MLSU), SPACE (Science Popularization Association of Communicators and Educators), IUCAA and many students passionate on astronomy as well as locals saw the rare happening from various locations in Udaipur.

Though the Venus transit started at around 3:39 AM IST but it was only visible after sunrise at 5:45 and continued till 10:22 am. The students and scientists gathered at the terrace of Professor I.V. Trivedi’s residence at MLSU compound early morning.

Dr. Chandan Joshi, Research Scholar of IUCAA informed that students started viewing the Venus Transit from a telescope and solar filters. Prof. I.V Trivedi also relished the event with UIT secretary R.P Sharma and Manish Jain D.S.T regional officer IUCAA.

The Venus Transit was also viewed from the Solar Observatory at Rani Road near Lake Fateh Sagar, since the observatory was opened for the public, many people turned up to see the remarkable event in the sky.

Professor of Astro Physics, Ashok Ambasker of the Solar Observatory said that, “Venus Transit last occurred in 2004 and now in 2012. This event will again occur only after 105 years and that makes it one of the rarest events.”

“We opened the Solar Observatory for public today to experience the Transit of Venus”, said Prof. Ambasker.

He also explained that the Venus Transit does not affect earth’s environment because of its long distance.

Check out and find how Udaipurties enjoyed the Transit of Venus

Photos by Sayeed Ahmed and Sohail Khan of UdaipurTimes.com