LOOK towards the sky on Tuesday and you will see something no living person has ever seen before.

Venus will be passing between the Earth and the Sun -- something that has not been seen since 1882.

In fact, it is only the sixth time the phenomenon has EVER been seen, the first being in 1639 when it was discovered by world famous astrologer Jeremiah Horrocks.

The universal free show in the sky will -- weather permitting -- be viewable from anywhere in Bolton and the town's astronomers will all be casting their gazes upwards.

Anyone who joins them will see the golden-coloured planet appear as a black circle drifting across the face of the Sun.

Viewed from Bolton, it will start to move across the disc of the Sun at around 6.20am, travelling slowly from left to right throughout the morning, leaving its disc shortly after midday.

But beware: looking directly at the sun can cause blindness.

Venus gazers are being warned not to look directly at the Sun during the transit because it can cause permanent eye damage. And that applies to people looking through a telescope, binoculars and camera viewfinders.

You can also follow the action on the sunearthconnection education website sponsored by NASA in America.

Safe observations of the transit will take place at Deane School, Junction Road, Bolton, where members of Bolton Astronomical Society will set up a variety of telescopes. All are being welcomed from 6.30am to 12.30pm.

The occurrence is being excitedly talked about in astronomy circles with Dr Andy Breen, a solar-terrestrial physicist at the institute of mathematical and physical sciences at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, saying the transit of Venus will be of enormous importance in increasing our understanding of the Solar System.

He said it helps us to map the size of the universe and calculate how far the Earth is from the Sun.

But the universe is not such a big place

NOT many people know the transit of Venus has a direct link with Bolton.

For world famous astrologer Jeremiah Horrocks, who predicted and saw the first transit of Venus had a brother who lived in Deane.

There are records that prove Jeremiah used to write to his brother Jonas asking him to observe the transit and a Jonas Horrocks was baptised in Bolton in 1622.

Horrocks, who counted Isaac Newton among his admirers, first witnessed the transit of venus on November 24, 1639, in the village of Much Hoole, near Preston.

Not only did he observe it but he also predicted the event - all at the age of 20.

Other webcams around the world

Perth Observatory, Western Australia

Global Oscillation Network Group, from Learmonth, Western Australia and Udaipur, India

Exporatorium webcast from Athens, Greece

Saros Group Scientific Expeditions from Gran Canaria

University of North Dakota from New Dehli, India

Images from the European Southern Observatory

Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain

Universidad de Barcelona, Spain

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