08/06/2004
Venus transit visible in many areas of UK
The rare transit of Venus across the face of the sun should be visible this morning in many parts of the UK as viewing conditions are favourable with little cloud.
The transit began at around 06:19 BST this morning and will end at around 12:20 BST. This is the first time since 1882 that this event has occurred, and Met Office forecasters predict that the weather looks set to give most watchers a reasonable chance of seeing the dark speck as Venus moves across the Sun's disc.
Although cloud amounts are expected to increase from the west today, most watchers should at least get a glimpse of this intriguing event, with the best chance of a good view in the east and south-east of England early on Tuesday.
Experts warn intending observers not to look directly at the sun even with sunglasses and especially not with a telescope or binoculars, as this will cause damage to the eyes.
One safe way to observe the transit is by using a pinhole in an opaque card, or a suitably shrouded pair of binoculars, to project an image onto white paper in the shadowed area.
The Venus transits occur in pairs, roughly eight years apart, but the next planetary alignment necessary to view the transit from earth will not occur for another 105 years.
An earlier transit in 1769 inspired Capt James Cook's expedition to the southern oceans to watch the event, and the next one in the UK will be in 2012 at around 5am, though there will then be in 2117.
(SP)
The transit began at around 06:19 BST this morning and will end at around 12:20 BST. This is the first time since 1882 that this event has occurred, and Met Office forecasters predict that the weather looks set to give most watchers a reasonable chance of seeing the dark speck as Venus moves across the Sun's disc.
Although cloud amounts are expected to increase from the west today, most watchers should at least get a glimpse of this intriguing event, with the best chance of a good view in the east and south-east of England early on Tuesday.
Experts warn intending observers not to look directly at the sun even with sunglasses and especially not with a telescope or binoculars, as this will cause damage to the eyes.
One safe way to observe the transit is by using a pinhole in an opaque card, or a suitably shrouded pair of binoculars, to project an image onto white paper in the shadowed area.
The Venus transits occur in pairs, roughly eight years apart, but the next planetary alignment necessary to view the transit from earth will not occur for another 105 years.
An earlier transit in 1769 inspired Capt James Cook's expedition to the southern oceans to watch the event, and the next one in the UK will be in 2012 at around 5am, though there will then be in 2117.
(SP)
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02 June 2004
Britons warned to avoid 'Venus eye-trap'
People could permanently damage their eyesight and even risk blindness if they look directly at an astral event which is due to take place next week. The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, warned that if people looked at Venus as it passes across the face of the Sun on June 8 they could risk their sight.
Britons warned to avoid 'Venus eye-trap'
People could permanently damage their eyesight and even risk blindness if they look directly at an astral event which is due to take place next week. The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, warned that if people looked at Venus as it passes across the face of the Sun on June 8 they could risk their sight.
13 August 2012
Closing Ceremony Narrowly Beat Opening For Viewing Figures
An average of 23.2 million tuned in to watch the closing ceremony of the Olympics, narrowly beating Danny Boyle’s opening event. 22.9m viewers watched the closing event on BBC1, giving the broadcaster a huge 80.7% share of the TV audience.
Closing Ceremony Narrowly Beat Opening For Viewing Figures
An average of 23.2 million tuned in to watch the closing ceremony of the Olympics, narrowly beating Danny Boyle’s opening event. 22.9m viewers watched the closing event on BBC1, giving the broadcaster a huge 80.7% share of the TV audience.
26 July 2013
Ford Closes Southampton Transit Plant
The Ford factory in Southampton has produced its final Transit van and staff have finished their last shift, as the site is to close. Some two million Transit vans have been produced by 500 staff at the Swaythling plant in the forty years since in opened.
Ford Closes Southampton Transit Plant
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27 January 2010
Robbers Jailed For 21 Years
Three men who committed a series of cash in transit robberies across north east London, amassing over £300,000, have been jailed for a total of 21 years.
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15 October 2003
Home Office tightens visa controls
Visa regimes are being tightened to help ensure the integrity of the UK's borders, the Home Office announced today. From midnight tonight, citizens of Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, India, Lebanon and Pakistan will need visas to travel through the UK.
Home Office tightens visa controls
Visa regimes are being tightened to help ensure the integrity of the UK's borders, the Home Office announced today. From midnight tonight, citizens of Angola, Bangladesh, Cameroon, India, Lebanon and Pakistan will need visas to travel through the UK.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Mainly dry and cloudy this morning, some patchy rain in the northwest. This afternoon will be cloudy with some light and patchy rain spreading southeast for a time. Maximum temperature 17 °C.Tonight:Clear periods across the north at first this evening. Otherwise a cloudy evening and night with outbreaks of rain spreading from the southwest. Light winds. Minimum temperature 7 °C.