Transit of Venus

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/transit-of-venus

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the next transit dates?December 10-11, 2117, and December 8, 2125
2. How often do Transits of Venus happen?They come in pairs about eight years apart, then a long gap of over a hundred years, following a 243‑year cycle.
3. Why were Transits of Venus important for science?By watching the transit from different places on Earth, scientists could measure how far the Sun is from us, giving the size of the solar system.

Syzygy: A rare straight-line configuration of three celestial bodies, such as the Sun, Earth, and Venus.
Ecliptic Plane: The plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun, serving as a reference for celestial positions.
Transit Photometry: A method of detecting exoplanets by measuring the slight dimming of a star as a planet passes in front of it.
Black Drop Effect: An optical illusion during Venus transits where Venus appears to deform and cling to the Sun's edge.