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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.
24 June 2015
Police Appeal For Information Following Cash-In-Transit Van Robbery
Police in Liverpool have appealed for information on a cash-in-transit van robbery in the city on Monday. Police are searching for a blue Ford Focus that they believe was involved in the robbery outside the Toby Carvery pub on Queens Drive.
Police Appeal For Information Following Cash-In-Transit Van Robbery
Police in Liverpool have appealed for information on a cash-in-transit van robbery in the city on Monday. Police are searching for a blue Ford Focus that they believe was involved in the robbery outside the Toby Carvery pub on Queens Drive.
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
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.
23 January 2012
Cash-In-Transit Robbers Gang Jailed
A gang of cash-in-transit robbers have been sentenced for a series of violent robberies across south-west London. Ishmael Baptiste and Romaine Gayle were convicted alongside Andre Abrahams and Gladstone Allen of robbery, after they were arrested by detectives from the Metroplitan Police's Flying Squad.
Cash-In-Transit Robbers Gang Jailed
A gang of cash-in-transit robbers have been sentenced for a series of violent robberies across south-west London. Ishmael Baptiste and Romaine Gayle were convicted alongside Andre Abrahams and Gladstone Allen of robbery, after they were arrested by detectives from the Metroplitan Police's Flying Squad.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Clear intervals and occasional wintry showers this evening with local fresh snowfalls and some ice. Overnight as winds ease showers will die back to northern coastal areas. Frosty. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
