Re: historical astronomy question

[Leigh Palmer <palmer@SFU.CA>]

> According to the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy I have, there was a
> transit of Venus on Dec. 4, 1639.  That was about three years before
> Galileo died, so there is the possibility for him to have seen it.

And it was visible (first and second contacts, at least) in Florence at
4:00 pm. I doubt Galileo saw it. It would have been noted by Stillman
Drake.

>  My copy of the Cambridge Encyclopedia does not list a second transit 8
> years before or after the one in 1639, but does list other pairs in
> 1761/1769 and 1874/1882.  Does any one have better information, or know
> for sure if Galileo saw a transit?

The 1639 transit was quite nearly central, and the usual two transit
pattern was broken.

>  By the way, the next transits of Venus are listed in the Cambridge
> Encyclopedia as being on June 7, 2004, and June 5, 2012.  On the other
> hand, my old copy of Baker's Astronomy (1959, 7th ed.) lists them as
> coming on June 8, 2004 and June 6, 2012.  Any one know which is correct?

The June 7 date is good only for the far western Pacific. June 8 is
better for Asia & points east.

Leigh