All Eyes on Planet Venus at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum (photos)

Hundreds of astronomy enthusiasts, young and old, turned out on the front porch of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on June 5 to view a rare astronomical event which occurs when the planet Venus passes between the earth and the sun. It is something that won’t happen again for at least another 100 years. Though the show in the skies over Washington, D.C., was largely obscured by cloudy skies, the sun did peek out on a few occasions. A large video screen was on hand to show Venus as a black dot gliding across the disc of the sun in real time from an observatory in Hawaii. Smithsonian staff and volunteers were on hand with free viewing glasses and a variety of devices for observing the celestial event.

View our photos from the porch of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum by clicking on the icons below.