WSU Telescopes Hone In On Venus Passing The Sun

DETROIT (WWJ) - It was a once in a lifetime viewing with the planet Venus passing the sun.

Dozens of people gathered on the observatory deck at Wayne State University where seven telescopes were positioned on the observatory deck to see the white circle (the sun) and the little black dot (Venus) passing by the sun. The next time this happens won't be for another 105 years.

This siting was almost curtained because of the clouds.

"We were feeling a little depressed about that - and then as it turns out of course, just before 6 (p.m.) ... the great cosmic god waved a wand or something and cleared the skys for us," said Jeff Conn a volunteer with the event.

"It's always nice when peopole can touch a bit of what's out there - astronomically," said Conn.

It's mindblowing - I wish more people would be interested," said George a student at Wayne State.

This was only the eighth transit of Venus since the invention of the telescope. The transit began at 6:04 p.m. Eastern time.