[aprssig] Transit of Venus event 6 June

[Bob Bruninga]

Transit of Venus Special Event, 6 June 2012:

For the 7th time in Human history and last time this century, Venus will
pass in front of the sun on 6 June 2012.  We are encouraging hams to join up
with astronomers and observers in public places to share in this event.  It
is observable worldwide except the center of the Atlantic (eastern S.America
and western Africa)  Everywhere else can see parts of it.  It lasts 5+ hours
and is fully visible around the Pacific Rim.

All previous centuries were before the discovery of radio and so sailing
ships were dispatched around the globe to time the event.  From these times,
the size of the Solar System could be calculated.  It took months if not
years to get the data back.  Now we can do it in 0.05 seconds with Ham
radio.

See if you can contact hams at other Transit of Venus sites from your public
observing site.  Here are the suggested calling frequencies.  We don't want
contest-style pileups nor home stations.  We just want a place where similar
public setups can contact like minded other public viewing sites via ham
radio and make their reports.  

See the web page:  http://aprs.org/VenusTransit2012.html

We are suggesting these calling frequencies:

40 Meters -  7180 KHz
20 Meters - 14240 KHz
17 Meters - 18140 KHz
15 Meters - 21240 KHz
12 Meters - 24940 KHz
10 Meters - 28340 KHz

VHF - APRS on the local national calling channel.  Send APRS messages as
noted on the web page.

*** TAKE ALL IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN VIEWING THE SUN!!! *** Google
for Techniques.

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR (will be observing in Japan with a Japanese (TBD)
callsign)