Talk:Astronomical transit

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ng Jupiter, as it did on January 3, 1818. ? Err exactly what position of observation renders that view of Venus transiting Jupiter. This image should be removed, not only is it nonsensical and badly put together aswell.

Dear anonymous flamer: Had you bothered to check the information contained in that image file, the illustration was created using Starry Night Pro software. It is VERY possible (although VERY rare) for one planet to pass in front of another as viewed from earth. In the case of Venus and Jupiter, since Venus will always be the closer planet to Earth, it will always be seen transiting Jupiter rather than the converse. Bart 00:44, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Distance from Sun

This article does not mention that transits were used estimate the distance between the Earth and the Sun [1] and hence (via Kepler's laws) the scale of the solar system. MichaelSH 13:30, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Contact times

The article mentions first, second, third and fourth contact. It should also mention the case of partial transits, where there is no second and third contact. Is that still considered a transit? --B.d.mills 08:33, 5 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Transits of Earth from Ceres or Vesta

When I first heard of the Earth can pass between the Sun and Mars, I am curious as to how often it passes between the Sun and the largest asteroids - Ceres and 4 Vesta.

Transits of Earth from Ceres (I checked on a website showing asteroid orbits) can occur in June or December. Ceres is closer to aphelion at a June transit. Those from 4 Vesta occur in early January or early July, and I found that the Earth did pass between the Sun and 4 Vesta on 3 January 1937 and 3 July 1960.

Should I write an article Transit of Earth from Ceres or Transit of Earth from 4 Vesta??

Luokehao 00:18, 10 August 2007 (UTC)