By JILL MCNEAL
6 News Anchor/Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - If you missed it Tuesday night, you'll have to wait more than a hundred years to see it again.
Millions across the globe used special telescopes to view the celestial cameo of Venus passing in front of the sun. It's a rare cosmic sight called "Venus in Transit" that won't happen again until 2117.
Stargazers in East Tennessee took part in the global event. There was a big turnout on the roof of the UT Physics Building. The event was free and open to the public.
"This is what I like, when we've got people who can come up here and we can share the equipment. I mean, this is taxpayer paid for equipment here," said UT Director of Space Science Outreach Paul Lewis.
"The transit is simply what we call a planet passing in front of the sun. We only see two planets do that from earth - Mercury and Venus," Lewis explained.
The crowds lined up for a look in several different telescopes.
"We are using filters that allow us to look directly at the sun," Lewis said. "We can see the little black dot of Venus against the backdrop of the sun. "
A lot of astronomical events happen at night, but this one was only viewable from 6:09 p.m. until sunset.
UT alum and retired surgeon James Lett got hooked on space a few years ago and comes up to the roof for all the special events.
"We've seen the space age come of age really. Back when they first walked on the moon we thought it was impossible and now we can look at this and at least imagine we might be someplace like Venus or Mars," Lett said.
Robert Pardue brought his daughter Gracie, 7, out for this once in a lifetime experience.
"I just hope she develops an interest in what's going on in the bigger world, that there's neat stuff out there in science," he said.
Gracie said she likes learning about the planets in school and loved seeing the Venus transit in action.
"It's really, really cool. It's something you don't get to do every single day," she said.
The telescopes on the roof of the UT Physics Building are available for public use on the first and third Friday of every month starting at 8 p.m., weather permitting.
Stargazers in East Tennessee took part in the global event.
"The transit is simply what we call a planet passing in front of the sun. We only see two planets do that from earth - Mercury and Venus," UT Director of Space Science Outreach Paul Lewis explained.
