Our last Transit of Venus is a film project about the Transit of Venus 2012, supported by the European Planetology Network (Europlanet, europlanet-eu.org).

Please visit vimeo.com/channels/ourlasttransitofvenus for other related videos.

A Transit of Venus is when planet Venus passes in front of the Sun as seen from the Earth. This happens at intervals of 121.5, 8, 105.5, 8, 121.5, 8, etc. years. Transits of Venus were observed in 1639, 1761 and 1769, 1874 and 1882 and in 2004. After 2012, one will have to wait until 2117 to see another one.

It was realised in the past that a Transit of Venus event observed from different places on Earth could lead to a direct measurement of the size of the Solar System. The events in the 18th and 19th century led to worldwide expeditions to do exactly that.

In 2004, the exercise was repeated by amateur astronomers and students. Scientists used the Transit to learn more about the atmosphere of planet Venus and about how to observe exoplanets transiting their mother stars. In 2012, similar actions will be organised all over the world.

The film is in the make at the moment and we are now getting footage of the aftermath of the event, the science results and people's memories.

More information on the Transit of Venus 2012 can be found on transitofvenus.nl, transitofvenus.info, sunearthday.nasa.gov/2011/index.php and imcce.fr.