Transits of Venus
Fifteen millennium catalog
5 000 BC - 10 000 AD
A transit is the passage of a planet across the Sun's bright disk. At this time, the planet can be seen as a small black disk slowly moving in front of the Sun. The orbits of Mercury and Venus lie inside Earth's orbit, so they are the only planets which can pass between Earth and Sun to produce a transit. Transits are very rare astronomical events. In the case of Venus, there are on average two transits every one and a quarter centuries. A transit of Venus occurs only if the planet is in inferior conjunction with the Sun (between Earth and Sun) and is also crossing the through Earth's orbital plane (the Ecliptic). During the present period in Earth's history, Venus's orbit crosses Earth's orbital plane in early June and early December each year. If the Venus is passing between the Earth and Sun at that time, a transit will be seen. The next transit of Venus will occur on 06 June 2012 and the one after it will be on 11 December 2117.
When a transit of Venus occurs, a second one often follows eight years later. This is because the orbital periods of Venus (224.701 days) and Earth (365.256 days) are in an 8 year (2922 days) resonance with each other. In other words, in the time it takes Earth to orbit the Sun eight times, Venus completes almost exactly thirteen revolutions about the Sun. As a result, Venus and Earth line up in the same positions with respect to the Sun. Actually, the two orbital periods are not quite commensurate with each other since Venus arrives at the eight year rendezvous about 22 hours earlier that Earth. By the third eight-year cycle, Venus arrives too early for a transit to occur.
The next transit season occurs either 105.5 years or 121.5 years later at the opposite node of Venus' orbit. Once again, a pair of transits will often occur separated by eight years. This recurrence pattern of 8 + 105.5 + 8 + 121.5 years can be seen repeating itself in the catalog of Venus transits. An example of the pattern can be seen in the transits of 1631, 1639, 1761, 1769, 1874, 1882, 2004 and 2012. Occasionally, one of the eight year "double-transits" may disappear from the catalog for several centuries because one of them is a near miss. For instance, note the "missing" transits of 1388, 1145, 0902, 0659, 0416, etc..
A useful way to organize the transits is by grouping them into series where each member of a series is separated by 88,756 days or 243 years (= sum of 8 + 105.5 + 8 + 121.5 years). Thus, the transits of 1518, 1761 and 2004 would belong to one series, while the transits of 1639, 1882 and 2125 would belong to another series. These transit families are quite analogous to the Saros series for solar and lunar eclipses. Such transit series are quite long-lived and typically last more than 6000 years. For example, Series 5 (Descending Node) began in 3100 BC and will run through 3705 for a total of 29 transits spanning 6804 years. However, the longest among transit series occurring during the investigated interval will begin in AD 5269 and will span over 226 centuries, producing 94 transits !!!
The position of the orbital nodes of Venus with respect to Earth are slowly changing with time. Five thousand years ago, transits occurred around May 21 and November 19. At present, the transits occur within a day of June 7 and December 9. In about 1500 years, the transits will occur during Earth's solstices (June 21 and December 22). This trend in the shift of transit dates is readily apparent in the catalog below. Over a period of approximately eighty thousand years, the transit dates will migrate forward one complete cycle through the seasons.
The following catalog contains predictions for every transit of Venus during the fifteen thousand year interval 5000 BC through 10000 AD. The information for each transit in the catalog is summarized as follows. The calendar date and time in the scale of Terrestrial Time of beginning of transit, Greatest Transit, and ending of transit are found in the first three columns. A minus or plus sign after time indicates its on previous or next date, respectively. The Sun's coordinates (Right Ascension and Declination) are given next. Follows the minimum separation between the centers of Venus and the Sun in arc-seconds, and the positional angle. Finally the transit series is given.
Below the catalog, detailed information is given for each of transit series occurring during the 15000 years interval. Time of first and last transit, number of transits, and duration of series is given.
During the fifteen millennium period 5000 BC to 10000 AD, Earth experiences 178 transits of Venus across the Sun. These events can be organized into two groups:
All Transits = 178 = 100.0 % Descending Node = 88 = 49.4 % Ascending Node = 90 = 50.6 %
Extremal transits are listed below.
Shortest Transit: AD 2854 Dec 14 Duration = 00h 26m 04s
Longest Transit: BC 3837 May 19 Duration = 08h 09m 48s
Smallest Angular Separation: AD 6872 Jul 19 Separation = 1.1"
Largest Angular Separation: AD 2854 Dec 14 Separation = 1026.7"
Transits of Venus
Fifteen millennium catalog
5 000 BC - 2 001 BC
Transit Contact Times (TT)
----------------------------- Sun Min PA Transit
Date Begins Greatest Ends RA Dec Sep Series
h:m h:m h:m h ° " °
BC 4915 Nov 16 08:54 12:02 15:09 13.06 -7.02 653.1 32 4
BC 4907 Nov 14 23:06- 01:55 04:44 12.91 -6.06 739.1 212 2
BC 4817 May 20 02:07 04:16 06:25 1.14 7.51 847.0 149 1
BC 4809 May 17 16:48 20:38 00:29+ 1.01 6.66 339.2 328 3
BC 4672 Nov 16 08:25 11:43 15:02 13.18 -7.78 591.5 32 4
BC 4664 Nov 14 23:11- 01:43 04:14 13.03 -6.84 804.9 212 2
BC 4574 May 21 05:26 07:00 08:33 1.28 8.36 920.2 149 1
BC 4566 May 18 19:27 23:23 03:19+ 1.14 7.53 265.1 329 3
BC 4429 Nov 16 07:53 11:22 14:51 13.30 -8.53 524.2 31 4
BC 4421 Nov 14 22:58- 01:03 03:09 13.15 -7.59 883.5 212 2
BC 4323 May 19 22:21- 02:22 06:23 1.28 8.39 182.6 329 3
BC 4186 Nov 17 07:02 10:41 14:20 13.43 -9.27 443.8 31 4
BC 4178 Nov 15 23:01- 00:28 01:54 13.27 -8.34 963.8 212 2
BC 4080 May 19 01:01 05:04 09:08 1.42 9.23 109.7 329 3
BC 3943 Nov 17 06:23 10:09 13:56 13.55 -10.00 371.4 31 4
BC 3837 May 19 04:08 08:13 12:18 1.56 10.07 25.6 330 3
BC 3700 Nov 17 05:25 09:19 13:13 13.67 -10.71 283.7 31 4
BC 3594 May 20 06:54 10:58 15:03 1.70 10.89 45.0 150 3
BC 3457 Nov 17 04:35 08:33 12:32 13.79 -11.41 199.0 30 4
BC 3351 May 20 10:10 14:12 18:15 1.84 11.70 132.5 150 3
BC 3214 Nov 18 03:43 07:45 11:47 13.92 -12.10 115.3 30 4
BC 3108 May 20 13:17 17:16 21:16 1.99 12.49 208.3 151 3
BC 3100 May 18 09:02 10:06 11:10 1.85 11.73 958.8 330 5
BC 2971 Nov 18 02:41 06:44 10:47 14.04 -12.77 17.2 29 4
BC 2865 May 20 16:41 20:34 00:27+ 2.13 13.27 296.1 151 3
BC 2857 May 18 11:36 13:35 15:33 2.00 12.53 869.1 331 5
BC 2728 Nov 18 01:54 05:58 10:01 14.16 -13.44 65.7 209 4
BC 2622 May 21 20:01 23:48 03:34+ 2.28 14.02 376.8 152 3
BC 2614 May 19 14:14 16:42 19:11 2.14 13.30 788.3 331 5
BC 2485 Nov 18 00:43 04:43 08:43 14.29 -14.08 171.0 209 4
BC 2379 May 22 23:24- 03:01 06:38 2.42 14.76 456.3 153 3
BC 2371 May 19 17:11 20:03 22:55 2.29 14.06 705.5 332 5
BC 2242 Nov 19 23:53- 03:48 07:44 14.42 -14.71 263.9 208 4
BC 2136 Nov 22 02:51 06:16 09:42 2.57 15.47 538.3 153 3
BC 2128 May 19 20:12 23:22 02:33+ 2.43 14.79 623.5 333 5
Transits of Venus
Fifteen millennium catalog
2 000 BC - 1 000 AD
Transit Contact Times (TT)
----------------------------- Sun Min PA Transit
Date Begins Greatest Ends RA Dec Sep Series
h:m h:m h:m h ° " °
BC 1999 Nov 19 22:36- 02:23 06:10 14.54 -15.32 373.6 208 4
BC 1893 May 22 06:23 09:34 12:45 2.72 16.16 617.5 154 3
BC 1885 May 20 23:10- 02:34 05:58 2.58 15.50 545.4 333 5
BC 1764 Nov 21 10:34 12:00 13:25 14.83 -16.65 967.1 26 6
BC 1756 Nov 19 21:42- 01:18 04:55 14.67 -15.91 474.4 207 4
BC 1650 May 23 10:00 12:53 15:47 2.87 16.83 697.0 154 3
BC 1642 May 21 02:30 06:07 09:43 2.73 16.20 459.9 334 5
BC 1521 Nov 21 08:43 10:54 13:05 14.96 -17.21 872.1 26 6
BC 1513 Nov 18 20:36 23:57 03:18+ 14.80 -16.49 585.1 207 4
BC 1407 May 23 13:45 16:16 18:47 3.02 17.47 780.4 155 3
BC 1399 May 21 05:34 09:18 13:03 2.88 16.86 384.6 334 5
BC 1278 Nov 22 06:49 09:34 12:19 15.09 -17.74 760.5 25 6
BC 1270 Nov 19 19:46 22:49 01:51+ 14.93 -17.05 684.3 206 4
BC 1164 May 23 17:37 19:40 21:43 3.18 18.08 858.2 156 3
BC 1156 May 21 09:03 12:56 16:49 3.04 17.50 295.8 335 5
BC 1035 Nov 22 05:24 08:31 11:38 15.22 -18.25 665.7 25 6
BC 1027 Nov 19 18:56 21:31 00:07+ 15.06 -17.58 796.2 205 4
BC 921 May 23 21:50 23:07 00:25+ 3.33 18.67 942.2 157 3
BC 913 May 21 12:17 16:15 20:13 3.19 18.11 222.1 336 5
BC 792 Nov 22 03:40 07:06 10:32 15.35 -18.74 553.2 24 6
BC 784 Nov 19 18:18 20:18 22:18 15.19 -18.10 899.1 205 4
BC 670 May 22 15:45 19:46 23:47 3.35 18.69 137.4 337 5
BC 549 Nov 22 02:19 05:59 09:38 15.49 -19.22 451.3 23 6
BC 541 Nov 19 18:07 18:55 19:44 15.32 -18.59 1012.2 204 4
BC 427 May 22 19:08 23:11 03:14+ 3.50 19.25 61.5 337 5
BC 306 Nov 23 00:35 04:26 08:17 15.62 -19.66 335.6 23 6
BC 184 May 23 22:27- 02:30 06:34 3.66 19.77 11.0 158 5
BC 63 Nov 23 23:16- 03:14 07:12 15.76 -20.08 229.9 22 6
AD 60 May 23 01:52 05:54 09:57 3.82 20.25 87.4 159 5
AD 181 Nov 23 21:44- 01:47 05:50 15.89 -20.48 114.4 21 6
AD 303 May 24 05:14 09:14 13:15 3.98 20.71 157.7 160 5
AD 424 Nov 23 20:28- 00:33 04:37 16.03 -20.86 9.6 20 6
AD 546 May 24 08:45 12:42 16:38 4.14 21.13 232.3 161 5
AD 554 May 22 04:36 06:00 07:24 3.99 20.72 933.6 340 7
AD 667 Nov 23 19:16 23:19 03:23+ 16.17 -21.21 99.3 200 6
AD 789 May 24 12:16 16:07 19:59 4.30 21.52 307.5 162 5
AD 797 May 22 07:15 09:14 11:14 4.15 21.14 866.7 341 7
AD 910 Nov 23 18:01 22:01 02:00+ 16.31 -21.53 208.0 199 6
Transits of Venus
Fifteen millennium catalog
1 001 AD - 4 000 AD
Transit Contact Times (TT)
----------------------------- Sun Min PA Transit
Date Begins Greatest Ends RA Dec Sep Series
h:m h:m h:m h ° " °
AD 1032 May 24 15:43 19:28 23:13 4.46 21.87 373.3 163 5
AD 1040 May 22 10:21 12:48 15:15 4.31 21.52 791.9 342 7
AD 1153 Nov 23 17:03 20:56 00:50+ 16.45 -21.83 307.7 198 6
AD 1275 May 25 19:11 22:49 02:27+ 4.63 22.18 444.9 163 5
AD 1283 May 23 13:12 15:56 18:41 4.48 21.87 733.7 343 7
AD 1396 Nov 23 15:49 19:32 23:15 16.59 -22.10 424.4 197 6
AD 1518 May 26 22:30- 02:00 05:29 4.79 22.45 505.3 164 5
AD 1526 May 23 16:14 19:15 22:15 4.64 22.18 666.8 344 7
AD 1631 Dec 07 03:40 05:21 07:01 16.91 -22.64 939.3 16 8
AD 1639 Dec 04 14:56 18:27 21:57 16.74 -22.34 523.6 197 6
AD 1761 Jun 06 02:00 05:19 08:39 4.96 22.69 570.4 165 5
AD 1769 Jun 03 19:13 22:26 01:38+ 4.80 22.44 609.4 344 7
AD 1874 Dec 09 01:42 04:07 06:32 17.06 -22.82 829.9 15 8
AD 1882 Dec 06 13:54 17:06 20:18 16.88 -22.56 637.3 196 6
AD 2004 Jun 08 05:12 08:21 11:30 5.12 22.89 626.9 166 5
AD 2012 Jun 06 22:09- 01:31 04:53 4.97 22.68 554.4 345 7
AD 2117 Dec 11 23:58- 02:52 05:46 17.20 -22.97 723.7 14 8
AD 2125 Dec 08 13:15 16:06 18:57 17.03 -22.74 736.4 195 6
AD 2247 Jun 11 08:47 11:42 14:38 5.29 23.05 691.3 167 5
AD 2255 Jun 09 01:16 04:48 08:19 5.14 22.87 491.8 346 7
AD 2360 Dec 13 22:44- 01:59 05:13 17.35 -23.09 625.7 13 8
AD 2368 Dec 10 12:38 15:00 17:23 17.17 -22.90 836.4 194 6
AD 2490 Jun 12 11:57 14:40 17:22 5.45 23.17 741.1 168 5
AD 2498 Jun 10 04:11 07:49 11:27 5.30 23.02 442.7 347 7
AD 2603 Dec 16 21:13- 00:44 04:16 17.49 -23.18 517.1 12 8
AD 2611 Dec 13 12:24 14:06 15:48 17.32 -23.03 934.8 193 6
AD 2733 Jun 15 15:39 18:01 20:24 5.62 23.24 808.3 169 5
AD 2741 Jun 13 07:16 11:00 14:45 5.47 23.14 385.6 348 7
AD 2846 Dec 17 20:23- 00:05 03:47 17.64 -23.24 432.1 11 8
AD 2854 Dec 14 13:01 13:14 13:28 17.47 -23.12 1026.7 192 6
AD 2976 Jun 16 18:46 20:53 23:00 5.79 23.28 850.5 170 5
AD 2984 Jun 14 10:10 13:59 17:48 5.63 23.21 336.3 349 7
AD 3089 Dec 18 19:01 22:53 02:46+ 17.79 -23.27 320.7 10 8
AD 3219 Jun 20 22:19- 00:00 01:40 5.96 23.28 908.2 171 5
AD 3227 Jun 17 13:03 16:55 20:48 5.80 23.25 293.3 350 7
AD 3332 Dec 20 18:14 22:12 02:10+ 17.94 -23.26 235.6 9 8
AD 3462 Jun 22 01:30 02:46 04:02 6.12 23.24 948.2 172 5
AD 3470 Jun 19 15:51 19:47 23:42 5.97 23.25 247.9 351 7
AD 3575 Dec 23 17:08 21:11 01:13+ 18.09 -23.23 131.7 9 8
AD 3705 Jun 24 05:02 05:35 06:08 6.29 23.16 989.5 173 5
AD 3713 Jun 21 18:30 22:27 02:25 6.13 23.21 215.1 352 7
AD 3818 Dec 25 16:23 20:27 00:31+ 18.24 -23.16 41.3 8 8
AD 3956 Jun 24 21:17- 01:17 05:16 6.3 23.13 175.0 353 7
Transits of Venus
Fifteen millennium catalog
4 001 AD - 7 000 AD
Transit Contact Times (TT)
----------------------------- Sun Min PA Transit
Date Begins Greatest Ends RA Dec Sep Series
h:m h:m h:m h ° " °
AD 4061 Dec 26 15:45 19:49 23:54 18.39 -23.07 44.4 187 8
AD 4199 Jun 26 23:51- 03:52 07:52 6.46 23.01 143.3 354 7
AD 4304 Dec 29 15:13 19:15 23:18 18.54 -22.94 131.0 186 8
AD 4442 Jun 28 02:39 06:41 10:43 6.63 22.85 106.6 355 7
AD 4547 Dec 31 14:54 18:53 22:53 18.69 -22.78 207.5 185 8
AD 4685 Jun 30 05:03 09:06 13:08 6.80 22.65 84.2 356 7
AD 4791 Jan 02 14:33 18:28 22:23 18.84 -22.58 285.7 184 8
AD 4928 Jul 02 07:42 11:45 15:48 6.96 22.42 51.4 357 7
AD 5034 Jan 04 14:20 18:08 21:57 18.99 -22.36 364.9 183 8
AD 5171 Jul 05 09:51 13:54 17:57 7.12 22.15 43.0 358 7
AD 5269 Jan 08 02:53 04:00 05:07 19.31 -21.81 984.5 2 9
AD 5277 Jan 05 14:11 17:53 21:34 19.14 -22.11 435.3 182 8
AD 5414 Jul 07 12:16 16:19 20:22 7.29 21.85 18.3 359 7
AD 5512 Jan 12 01:51 03:45 05:38 19.46 -21.49 906.5 1 9
AD 5520 Jan 09 14:05 17:37 21:08 19.30 -21.82 511.6 182 8
AD 5657 Jul 08 14:16 18:19 22:23 7.45 21.51 15.8 360 7
AD 5755 Jan 13 01:18 03:38 05:57 19.62 -21.14 839.8 360 9
AD 5763 Jan 10 14:14 17:36 20:58 19.45 -21.50 576.2 181 8
AD 5900 Jul 11 16:30 20:33 00:36+ 7.61 21.14 2.7 0 7
AD 5998 Jan 15 00:48 03:30 06:12 19.77 -20.76 765.7 359 9
AD 6006 Jan 12 14:25 17:35 20:46 19.60 -21.15 639.5 180 8
AD 6143 Jul 13 18:32 22:35 02:39+ 7.77 20.74 4.2 181 7
AD 6241 Jan 17 00:53 03:48 06:43 19.92 -20.34 711.9 358 9
AD 6249 Jan 14 14:52 17:50 20:49 19.75 -20.77 696.5 179 8
AD 6386 Jul 16 20:33- 00:36 04:40 7.93 20.30 5.8 182 7
AD 6484 Jan 19 00:38 03:47 06:56 20.07 -19.91 645.7 357 9
AD 6492 Jan 16 15:20 18:05 20:50 19.90 -20.36 751.3 178 8
AD 6629 Jul 18 22:28- 02:31 06:35 8.08 19.84 6.3 183 7
AD 6727 Jan 22 00:59 04:17 07:35 20.22 -19.43 595.6 357 9
AD 6735 Jan 19 16:00 18:31 21:03 20.06 -19.92 799.3 178 8
AD 6872 Jul 19 00:10 04:14 08:17 8.24 19.35 1.1 4 7
AD 6970 Jan 23 00:55 04:23 07:51 20.37 -18.94 534.0 356 9
AD 6978 Jan 20 16:36 18:49 21:01 20.21 -19.45 856.5 177 8
Transits of Venus
Fifteen millennium catalog
7 001 AD - 10 000 AD
Transit Contact Times (TT)
----------------------------- Sun Min PA Transit
Date Begins Greatest Ends RA Dec Sep Series
h:m h:m h:m h ° " °
AD 7115 Jul 23 01:49 05:52 09:56 8.40 18.83 16.4 4 7
AD 7213 Jan 25 01:17 04:51 08:26 20.52 -18.41 483.7 355 9
AD 7221 Jan 22 17:28 19:23 21:18 20.36 -18.95 897.7 176 8
AD 7358 Jul 24 03:20 07:24 11:27 8.55 18.29 29.2 5 7
AD 7456 Jan 28 01:37 05:18 09:00 20.67 -17.86 430.8 355 9
AD 7464 Jan 25 18:20 19:47 21:14 20.51 -18.43 951.0 175 8
AD 7601 Jul 26 04:43 08:46 12:49 8.70 17.72 55.2 6 7
AD 7699 Jan 29 02:05 05:51 09:36 20.81 -17.29 385.7 354 9
AD 7707 Jan 27 19:38 20:38 21:38 20.66 -17.87 985.8 175 8
AD 7844 Jul 28 06:15 10:18 14:21 8.85 17.13 71.5 6 7
AD 7942 Feb 01 02:56 06:45 10:35 20.96 -16.68 348.3 353 9
AD 8087 Jul 30 07:27 11:29 15:32 9.00 16.51 102.0 7 7
AD 8185 Feb 02 03:37 07:30 11:22 21.11 -16.06 308.3 353 9
AD 8330 Aug 02 08:57 12:58 17:01 9.15 15.87 124.6 8 7
AD 8428 Feb 05 04:39 08:33 12:28 21.26 -15.40 279.5 352 9
AD 8573 Aug 03 09:51 13:51 17:52 9.30 15.22 167.5 8 7
AD 8671 Feb 07 05:33 09:30 13:27 21.41 -14.73 242.4 351 9
AD 8816 Aug 05 11:04 15:03 19:02 9.45 14.54 199.3 9 7
AD 8914 Feb 09 06:33 10:32 14:29 21.56 -14.03 212.4 351 9
AD 9059 Aug 08 11:46 15:42 19:38 9.59 13.85 256.1 9 7
AD 9157 Feb 11 07:43 11:43 15:42 21.70 -13.31 185.8 350 9
AD 9302 Aug 10 12:43 16:36 20:29 9.74 13.14 297.6 10 7
AD 9400 Feb 13 08:50 12:50 16:51 21.85 -12.58 154.5 350 9
AD 9537 Aug 15 01:17 02:09 03:03 10.03 11.66 988.1 191 10
AD 9545 Aug 12 13:26 17:15 21:03 9.88 12.42 356.3 10 7
AD 9643 Feb 15 10:18 14:19 18:21 22.00 -11.82 141.9 349 9
AD 9780 Aug 16 01:20 02:51 04:21 10.17 10.91 940.5 191 10
AD 9788 Aug 13 14:15 17:58 21:41 10.02 11.68 408.1 11 7
AD 9886 Feb 17 11:39 15:41 19:43 22.14 -11.05 117.0 349 9
Transits of Venus
Fifteen millennium catalog: 5 000 BC - 10 000 AD
Transit Series
Member First Transit Last Transit Number Duration 1 BC 18182 May 07 BC 4574 May 21 57 13608 2 BC 13412 Nov 02 BC 4178 Nov 15 39 9234 3 BC 6996 May 14 BC 921 May 23 26 6075 4 BC 6859 Nov 14 BC 541 Nov 19 27 6318 5 BC 3100 May 18 AD 3705 Jun 24 29 6804 6 BC 1764 Nov 21 AD 2854 Dec 14 20 4617 7 AD 554 May 22 AD 11732 Aug 30 47 11178 8 AD 1631 Dec 07 AD 7707 Jan 27 26 6075 9 AD 5269 Jan 08 AD 27868 Jul 26 94 22599 10 AD 9537 Aug 15 AD 14883 Sep 29 23 5346
Notes
The descending node is the point along a planet's orbit where it crosses the ecliptic (Earth's orbital plane) from north to south.
The ascending node is the point along a planet's orbit where it crosses the ecliptic (Earth's orbital plane) from south to north.
Begin and End contact times are given for the instants when Venus is externally tangent to solar disc.
Greatest transit is defined as the instant when the planet passes closest to the center of the Sun as seen from the center of Earth.
Positional angle, measured in degrees, of center of Venus with respect to the center of Sun at the instant of Greatest Transit, measured counterclockwise from North = 0.
Local circumstances on transits of Mercury and Venus are available here.