The Transit of Venus as viewed by a FOX5 camera. Note the small black speck on the sun.
Dr. Lonnie Hammargren opened his observatory to space enthusiasts TuesdayLAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Dozens of Las Vegas area stargazers climbed to the roof of Dr. Lonnie Hammargren's home to watch a rare celestial event.
The Transit of Venus started just after 3 p.m. Tuesday and continued through sunset. Hammargren opened his rooftop observatory to the public as they watched the planet cross paths with the sun.
"It's totally exciting… come on, it's like I've lived for it," said Hammargren.
Janet Barnbrook was one of the amateur space enthusiasts who graced the rooftop wearing special solar-filtered glasses.
"It's fascinating. It's absolutely fascinating," said Barnbrook.
She joined a group of students, many from Coronado High School, who spent the afternoon staring into the sky.
The transit wraps up a trio of celestial moments, including a partial lunar eclipse on Monday and the annular solar eclipse two weeks ago.
Before Tuesday, the Transit of Venus only happened seven times since the telescope was invented, and it won't happen again for another 105 years.
"Just the whole Venus eclipse, and just every hundred years... It's kind of like legendary, I guess," said Coronado student Tad Deike.
"Why would you pass up this opportunity? Something you could see once in a lifetime, even?" said Sara Stoeckinger.
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