Transit of Venus at Varsity Stadium Photo Gallery

June 5, 2012 at Varsity Stadium

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Transit-watchers began lining up at 3:30pm, well ahead of the 5:30pm scheduled start time. By the time the gates finally opened, the line extended west along Bloor Street and down Devonshire Place to beyond the south end of the stadium.

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The event was free but visitors were asked to register online ahead of time. When 4000 spots "sold out" the weekend prior to the 5th, organizers freed up another 1000 spots which went quickly. By the time registered guests were admitted into the stadium, along with additional unregistered guests waiting for a chance to get in, an estimated 5600 transit-viewing glasses had been handed out.

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Organizers were glad to have as a sponsor, SkyNews: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing.

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Canadian composer and conductor Victor Davies (right) spoke to guests before they headed into the stands. Davies composed the opera "The Transit of Venus", based on Canadian playwright Maureen Wright's play of the same name.

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Some of the thousands who crowded the Varsity grandstand.

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U of T Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics postdoctoral fellow, Ernst de Mooij (right), recorded the transit with an H-alpha telescope prior to delivering his public talk on transits and how they help him determine the nature of planets beyond our Solar System.

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Harold Battersby, 90, made a special effort to attend the Varsity Stadium event.

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Paul Greenham from the U of T's Institute for the History & Philosophy of Science & Technology, a young transit-watcher, and a 200-year-old Gregorian reflector from the university's Scientific Instruments Collection.

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"Ask Me. I'm an Astronomer!" Linda Strubbe, a postdoctoral fellow with the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, was one of the many graduate students, postdocs and faculty answering questions from the public and the media.

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Kylah Thomson (left) and Maria Torriano (right) got into character at Varsity Stadium before their performance in "The Transit of Venus" later that evening, the tragic story of French astronomer Guillaume le Gentil's quest to see the transits of 1761 and 1769.

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CBC TV arts reporter Deana Sumanac took a break from the arts for a little science.

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Stars on Ice: Organizers set up the inflatable planetarium in Varsity Arena for six sold-out shows.

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Faculty of Arts and Science Dean, Meric Gertler, was among the thousands who attended the event. Credit: Howard Yee

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Dunlap Institute Director, James Graham, spoke with CBC TV News reporter Ron Charles. Media attention on the event was extensive and included both Toronto and National coverage. Credit: Howard Yee

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The transit brought smiles to the faces of excited visitors...

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...and prompted others to reflect on the wonders of the Solar System.

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Dunlap Institute Director of Outreach and Education, Michael Reid, took a moment to enjoy the transit for himself after months of working on the Varsity Stadium event. The event was organized by the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, in collaboration with the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Alumni Relations at the U of T, the Varsity Centre, SkyNews Magazine, the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, the U of T Bookstore, and the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the U of T. We can't wait for the next transit!

Transit-watchers began lining up at 3:30pm, well ahead of the 5:30pm scheduled start time. By the time the gates finally opened, the line extended west along Bloor Street and down Devonshire Place to beyond the south end of the stadium.The event was free but visitors were asked to register online ahead of time. When 4000 spots "sold out" the weekend prior to the 5th, organizers freed up another 1000 spots which went quickly. By the time registered guests were admitted into the stadium, along with additional unregistered guests waiting for a chance to get in, an estimated 5600 transit-viewing glasses had been handed out.Organizers were glad to have as a sponsor, SkyNews: The Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing.Canadian composer and conductor Victor Davies (right) spoke to guests before they headed into the stands. Davies composed the opera "The Transit of Venus", based on Canadian playwright Maureen Wright's play of the same name.Some of the thousands who crowded the Varsity grandstand.6_Spectator agape_8272_940pxU of T Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics postdoctoral fellow, Ernst de Mooij (right), recorded the transit with an H-alpha telescope prior to delivering his public talk on transits and how they help him determine the nature of planets beyond our Solar System.Harold Battersby, 90, made a special effort to attend the Varsity Stadium event.Paul Greenham from the U of T's Institute for the History & Philosophy of Science & Technology, a young transit-watcher, and a 200-year-old Gregorian reflector from the university's Scientific Instruments Collection.9_Second contact_8in_1821_940px"Ask Me. I'm an Astronomer!" Linda Strubbe, a postdoctoral fellow with the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, was one of the many graduate students, postdocs and faculty answering questions from the public and the media.Kylah Thomson (left) and Maria Torriano (right) got into character at Varsity Stadium before their performance in "The Transit of Venus" later that evening, the tragic story of French astronomer Guillaume le Gentil's quest to see the transits of 1761 and 1769.CBC TV arts reporter Deana Sumanac took a break from the arts for a little science.13_Varsity scoreboard_7421_940pxStars on Ice: Organizers set up the inflatable planetarium in Varsity Arena for six sold-out shows.Faculty of Arts and Science Dean, Meric Gertler, was among the thousands who attended the event. Credit: Howard YeeDunlap Institute Director, James Graham, spoke with CBC TV News reporter Ron Charles. Media attention on the event was extensive and included both Toronto and National coverage. Credit: Howard YeeThe transit brought smiles to the faces of excited visitors......and prompted others to reflect on the wonders of the Solar System.Dunlap Institute Director of Outreach and Education, Michael Reid, took a moment to enjoy the transit for himself after months of working on the Varsity Stadium event. The event was organized by the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, in collaboration with the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Alumni Relations at the U of T, the Varsity Centre, SkyNews Magazine, the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, the U of T Bookstore, and the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the U of T. We can't wait for the next transit!

On June 5, thousands gathered at Varsity Stadium to witness the last transit of Venus they would see in their lifetimes. Every visitor received a pair of free transit-viewing glasses and watched from the stands as the planet started moving across the face of the Sun at 6:04pm. Visitors also viewed the event through telescopes set up on the track and on the Jumbotron via live feeds from around the world–and from the university’s own 8″ refractor telescope. U of T astronomers, postdocs and grad students were on hand to answer questions. There were planetarium shows, a free public talk–even the performance of one act from Canadian playwright Maureen Hunter’s “The Transit of Venus.” The event was organized by the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics and many partners within the university, and surpassed everyone’s expectations. (All photographs Dunlap Institute unless otherwise noted.)