1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:11,299 you 2 00:00:18,390 --> 00:00:15,019 the last one was less than a decade ago 3 00:00:24,930 --> 00:00:18,400 before then the most recent occurrence 4 00:00:29,940 --> 00:00:24,940 was in eighteen eighty two and the next 5 00:00:33,660 --> 00:00:29,950 time it'll be 21 17 when few if any of 6 00:00:36,150 --> 00:00:33,670 us will be alive to see it among the 7 00:00:38,309 --> 00:00:36,160 most rare the predictable celestial 8 00:00:40,799 --> 00:00:38,319 events the sight of the planet Venus 9 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:40,809 slowly trekking across the face of the 10 00:00:46,799 --> 00:00:44,170 Sun has been witnessed by humans only 11 00:00:50,430 --> 00:00:46,809 fifty three times since two thousand 12 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:50,440 years bc what about the heavens have 13 00:00:55,979 --> 00:00:53,530 these phenomena taught us and what else 14 00:00:58,799 --> 00:00:55,989 might we discover about our place in the 15 00:01:05,070 --> 00:00:58,809 universe during these next six plus 16 00:01:30,639 --> 00:01:05,080 hours the vainest transfer 2012 next on 17 00:01:35,419 --> 00:01:33,169 good morning good afternoon good night 18 00:01:38,389 --> 00:01:35,429 it depends wherever you may be watching 19 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:38,399 us around the world this is NASA TVs 20 00:01:43,219 --> 00:01:41,250 coverage of 2012 venus transit I'm nasa 21 00:01:45,830 --> 00:01:43,229 TV senior producer al Feinberg with me 22 00:01:48,169 --> 00:01:45,840 office of communications colleague Dwane 23 00:01:50,449 --> 00:01:48,179 Brown and we've got some really cool 24 00:01:53,319 --> 00:01:50,459 stuff to talk about tonight that is 25 00:01:56,089 --> 00:01:53,329 right now I am so happy to be here and 26 00:02:00,080 --> 00:01:56,099 ladies and gentlemen you are in for a 27 00:02:02,209 --> 00:02:00,090 treat you are going to hear and see 28 00:02:04,819 --> 00:02:02,219 firsthand not just here in Washington DC 29 00:02:08,180 --> 00:02:04,829 but all over the world something that 30 00:02:11,509 --> 00:02:08,190 won't happen again for another 105 years 31 00:02:13,580 --> 00:02:11,519 now as I said I'm Dwane Brown with the 32 00:02:15,530 --> 00:02:13,590 office of communications but I have one 33 00:02:17,990 --> 00:02:15,540 of the coolest jobs in the world I get 34 00:02:19,789 --> 00:02:18,000 to work with special people who next to 35 00:02:22,759 --> 00:02:19,799 me and i'm going to introduce him but 36 00:02:24,559 --> 00:02:22,769 the incredible scientists engineers to 37 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:24,569 do all the incredible science activities 38 00:02:29,150 --> 00:02:27,690 and all right now looking at what you 39 00:02:32,020 --> 00:02:29,160 guys are going to see the venus transit 40 00:02:34,220 --> 00:02:32,030 all over the world first things first 41 00:02:37,250 --> 00:02:34,230 safety for the folks watching this 42 00:02:38,750 --> 00:02:37,260 program really really listen carefully 43 00:02:41,509 --> 00:02:38,760 it's been on the internet it's been on 44 00:02:43,490 --> 00:02:41,519 TV and other things do not go outside 45 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:43,500 and look at the Sun without some 46 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:47,010 protection we've got these glasses and 47 00:02:51,650 --> 00:02:48,690 there are other types of components but 48 00:02:53,449 --> 00:02:51,660 safety first safety first always 49 00:02:54,830 --> 00:02:53,459 remember that and go to your internet 50 00:02:56,780 --> 00:02:54,840 and they'll give you some other ideas 51 00:02:58,339 --> 00:02:56,790 for that I tested this by the way 52 00:03:01,849 --> 00:02:58,349 yesterday their work just a little 53 00:03:04,190 --> 00:03:01,859 orange dot very safe and again if you 54 00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:04,200 don't have the glasses tell your friends 55 00:03:09,740 --> 00:03:07,650 to come watch NASA TV and WWE gov we're 56 00:03:11,089 --> 00:03:09,750 going to bring you it live and in color 57 00:03:13,129 --> 00:03:11,099 not just here from all over the world 58 00:03:15,140 --> 00:03:13,139 and we understand that there's now some 59 00:03:17,449 --> 00:03:15,150 some cloud weather on the east coast but 60 00:03:19,849 --> 00:03:17,459 that's okay you may get lucky but again 61 00:03:23,479 --> 00:03:19,859 you see it here and arriving in color 62 00:03:26,180 --> 00:03:23,489 now you know social media for you to 63 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:26,190 folks who tweet Facebook and everything 64 00:03:31,250 --> 00:03:28,290 join the conversation and we have the 65 00:03:34,879 --> 00:03:31,260 best of the best working this night and 66 00:03:35,590 --> 00:03:34,889 he is going to be busy at Jason Towson 67 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:35,600 you 68 00:03:38,410 --> 00:03:37,130 for the night man I know it's gonna be 69 00:03:40,090 --> 00:03:38,420 you gonna have a lot of fun with us 70 00:03:41,860 --> 00:03:40,100 right yeah we're gonna have a lot of fun 71 00:03:43,420 --> 00:03:41,870 tonight we're just having everybody 72 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:43,430 follow along if you guys are online and 73 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:45,650 you're sharing updates and so on make 74 00:03:50,020 --> 00:03:47,210 sure to be using the hash tag pound 75 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:50,030 venus transit also make sure to follow 76 00:03:55,750 --> 00:03:52,850 along on at NASA on Twitter and to make 77 00:03:58,090 --> 00:03:55,760 sure to follow us on NASA facebook and 78 00:03:59,770 --> 00:03:58,100 google+ so we'll be looking out for good 79 00:04:01,360 --> 00:03:59,780 images will be sharing them along on 80 00:04:02,860 --> 00:04:01,370 social media and if you're taking 81 00:04:04,810 --> 00:04:02,870 pictures make sure to look us up on 82 00:04:06,820 --> 00:04:04,820 flickr if you go online the group name 83 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:06,830 is venus transit and so add your photos 84 00:04:10,810 --> 00:04:09,530 as you take them and have a good transit 85 00:04:12,490 --> 00:04:10,820 remember to be safe out there everybody 86 00:04:14,410 --> 00:04:12,500 and we'll keep checking back with what's 87 00:04:17,380 --> 00:04:14,420 trending and everything else is going on 88 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:17,390 and end a reminder Jason will also be 89 00:04:22,530 --> 00:04:19,730 keeping an eye on the different NASA 90 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:22,540 missions and the imagery that will be 91 00:04:27,730 --> 00:04:25,130 come up we've got the Solar Dynamics 92 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:27,740 Observatory we've got Hubble Space 93 00:04:31,450 --> 00:04:29,810 Telescope what else astronauts 94 00:04:33,580 --> 00:04:31,460 International Space Station that's right 95 00:04:35,950 --> 00:04:33,590 name it we got it but you know who we 96 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:35,960 have sitting next to us now I know this 97 00:04:42,010 --> 00:04:37,730 guy okay so I think it's time to bring 98 00:04:45,850 --> 00:04:42,020 him more now this gentleman is Jim Green 99 00:04:48,490 --> 00:04:45,860 dr. Jim Green and he is the director of 100 00:04:53,170 --> 00:04:48,500 NASA's planetary science division he is 101 00:04:56,290 --> 00:04:53,180 the boss he is numero uno the man and 102 00:04:57,820 --> 00:04:56,300 all of a sudden the system and so we're 103 00:04:59,080 --> 00:04:57,830 going to go right to him me because 104 00:05:00,220 --> 00:04:59,090 you're going to start out with jen we're 105 00:05:02,260 --> 00:05:00,230 going to have other scientists but we're 106 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:02,270 starting off with the boss first dr. 107 00:05:06,550 --> 00:05:04,850 Greene welcome thank you very much to 108 00:05:09,850 --> 00:05:06,560 Wayne how you feeling about this is a 109 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:09,860 fantastic opportunity to talk about the 110 00:05:15,010 --> 00:05:12,710 fascinating planet called Venus you know 111 00:05:17,170 --> 00:05:15,020 Venus is our sister planet and we've 112 00:05:22,030 --> 00:05:17,180 learned so much about this particular 113 00:05:24,220 --> 00:05:22,040 object venus is a gift and it keeps on 114 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:24,230 giving one of the things that we've 115 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:27,170 learned by venus transit is how far away 116 00:05:33,310 --> 00:05:31,310 the earth and the sun are and that one 117 00:05:35,950 --> 00:05:33,320 unit of measurement called the 118 00:05:38,620 --> 00:05:35,960 astronomical unit we use throughout the 119 00:05:41,170 --> 00:05:38,630 solar system and its really changed our 120 00:05:43,659 --> 00:05:41,180 perspective of how big the solar system 121 00:05:46,060 --> 00:05:43,669 is how long it takes to go from Planet 122 00:05:48,570 --> 00:05:46,070 Aid a planet be and so it's one of those 123 00:05:50,659 --> 00:05:48,580 fundamental things but that's just 124 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:50,669 the start of what Venus is done for us 125 00:05:59,070 --> 00:05:54,849 you know Venus was first observed in a 126 00:06:01,890 --> 00:05:59,080 telescope by Galileo in 1610 and when he 127 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:01,900 saw it over a period of time it changed 128 00:06:06,629 --> 00:06:04,210 shape in the sense that as it got close 129 00:06:08,580 --> 00:06:06,639 to the earth it formed a crescent phase 130 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:08,590 and as it got on the other side of the 131 00:06:13,350 --> 00:06:11,770 Sun it had that full face and in fact it 132 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:13,360 looked like very much going through 133 00:06:19,589 --> 00:06:17,050 phases of the Moon now Galileo put all 134 00:06:22,550 --> 00:06:19,599 that information together and determined 135 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:22,560 that Venus went around the Sun and 136 00:06:28,879 --> 00:06:26,530 therefore the Copernicus theory of the 137 00:06:31,890 --> 00:06:28,889 solar system was the correct one and 138 00:06:34,290 --> 00:06:31,900 when he started promoting that because 139 00:06:36,899 --> 00:06:34,300 he now had observations of the Sun 140 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:36,909 censored so a sun-centered solar system 141 00:06:42,809 --> 00:06:40,210 it changed our culture it started the 142 00:06:45,719 --> 00:06:42,819 modern science and it changed religion 143 00:06:49,110 --> 00:06:45,729 and we owe Venus that now here's a 144 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:49,120 transit that we're hope to see as you 145 00:06:54,719 --> 00:06:51,490 look in the screen of the object between 146 00:06:57,330 --> 00:06:54,729 us in the Sun that's Venus that's how it 147 00:07:01,260 --> 00:06:57,340 will look we only see that very rarely 148 00:07:05,550 --> 00:07:01,270 and in fact the next time that it will 149 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:05,560 occur will be in 2117 most of us maybe 150 00:07:11,909 --> 00:07:08,050 all of us won't be here by then we'll 151 00:07:16,379 --> 00:07:11,919 see what happens from from other types 152 00:07:20,279 --> 00:07:16,389 of science but Venus is just such a 153 00:07:22,290 --> 00:07:20,289 beautiful transit that occurs and I hope 154 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:22,300 you'll all have an opportunity to see it 155 00:07:27,659 --> 00:07:25,330 so let me turn it back to doing well Jim 156 00:07:29,430 --> 00:07:27,669 you know what I want to say I would be 157 00:07:31,290 --> 00:07:29,440 remiss without acknowledging our good 158 00:07:33,629 --> 00:07:31,300 friends who actually I'll you know that 159 00:07:35,579 --> 00:07:33,639 down in Hawaii the NASA edge guys and 160 00:07:37,260 --> 00:07:35,589 what you guys have been seeing them and 161 00:07:39,749 --> 00:07:37,270 you're going to see them throughout this 162 00:07:42,749 --> 00:07:39,759 Venus transit but we want to send out a 163 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:42,759 shout out to them also don't forget 164 00:07:49,019 --> 00:07:44,650 about social media you make you met 165 00:07:53,459 --> 00:07:49,029 Jason and join the conversation ladies 166 00:07:58,499 --> 00:07:53,469 and gentlemen Jim venus transit we won't 167 00:08:01,620 --> 00:07:58,509 see this again 105 years why should we 168 00:08:02,350 --> 00:08:01,630 care not not so much we will go on to 169 00:08:04,179 --> 00:08:02,360 the scientific 170 00:08:05,290 --> 00:08:04,189 but you know the millions of folks are 171 00:08:06,850 --> 00:08:05,300 gonna be watching us all the way around 172 00:08:09,100 --> 00:08:06,860 we're going to be showing some of those 173 00:08:11,950 --> 00:08:09,110 sites and visiting why should the folks 174 00:08:14,679 --> 00:08:11,960 care about this well there's we care on 175 00:08:18,309 --> 00:08:14,689 many levels you know from a perspective 176 00:08:20,860 --> 00:08:18,319 of wanting to know more about our solar 177 00:08:23,409 --> 00:08:20,870 system here's an occurrence like an 178 00:08:26,170 --> 00:08:23,419 eclipse that's very rare and of course 179 00:08:28,929 --> 00:08:26,180 it attracts our natural interest in 180 00:08:31,179 --> 00:08:28,939 looking at these wandering objects and 181 00:08:33,069 --> 00:08:31,189 where they go and in this case venus is 182 00:08:34,719 --> 00:08:33,079 going to cross in front of the Sun so 183 00:08:37,170 --> 00:08:34,729 there's the wonder of the phenomena 184 00:08:39,969 --> 00:08:37,180 itself the second thing is that 185 00:08:43,060 --> 00:08:39,979 fundamental transit that is occurring is 186 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:43,070 also scientific interest we've got a 187 00:08:47,199 --> 00:08:45,170 number of experiments that are going on 188 00:08:50,319 --> 00:08:47,209 we're going to be looking at Venus just 189 00:08:52,269 --> 00:08:50,329 as it starts its transit and we see the 190 00:08:54,610 --> 00:08:52,279 light from the Sun going through the 191 00:08:56,680 --> 00:08:54,620 atmosphere this is going to enable us to 192 00:08:59,110 --> 00:08:56,690 take a look at perhaps the temperature 193 00:09:02,410 --> 00:08:59,120 and the pressure at certain levels in 194 00:09:05,110 --> 00:09:02,420 the Venus atmosphere over most of the 195 00:09:07,180 --> 00:09:05,120 disk now we've never done that before in 196 00:09:09,939 --> 00:09:07,190 this way and this is a perfect 197 00:09:11,740 --> 00:09:09,949 opportunity for us to do us even Hubble 198 00:09:15,220 --> 00:09:11,750 will have an opportunity to make some 199 00:09:17,410 --> 00:09:15,230 transit observations so the scientists 200 00:09:19,540 --> 00:09:17,420 are excited about it I hope the public 201 00:09:22,079 --> 00:09:19,550 is excited about it it's certainly an 202 00:09:25,689 --> 00:09:22,089 important astronomical phenomena and 203 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:25,699 historically this has been so important 204 00:09:30,639 --> 00:09:28,370 in terms of understanding our place in 205 00:09:34,269 --> 00:09:30,649 the solar system as I mentioned a 206 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:34,279 sun-centered solar system our yardstick 207 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:37,010 a cosmic yardstick one astronomical unit 208 00:09:44,199 --> 00:09:39,529 it started our measuring system in space 209 00:09:48,310 --> 00:09:44,209 and 50 years ago this year we launched 210 00:09:52,870 --> 00:09:48,320 our first space probe to Venus so it was 211 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:52,880 a planetary object of extreme importance 212 00:09:58,660 --> 00:09:55,730 that changed everything for NASA 213 00:10:00,910 --> 00:09:58,670 planetary science and really created 214 00:10:05,740 --> 00:10:00,920 solar system exploration as we know it 215 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:05,750 today and tell us again Jim what the 216 00:10:09,519 --> 00:10:07,370 we've talked a little bit about the 217 00:10:13,389 --> 00:10:09,529 significance historically speaking this 218 00:10:14,260 --> 00:10:13,399 is something talk about Captain James 219 00:10:17,590 --> 00:10:14,270 Cook for exam 220 00:10:21,970 --> 00:10:17,600 back in the was at the 1760s right yes 221 00:10:24,190 --> 00:10:21,980 indeed in fact these transits were 222 00:10:26,470 --> 00:10:24,200 gaining a lot of interest in Europe and 223 00:10:28,750 --> 00:10:26,480 in fact you couldn't always see it from 224 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:28,760 your sometimes you had to travel to 225 00:10:36,190 --> 00:10:32,530 great distances and a lot of these early 226 00:10:38,890 --> 00:10:36,200 countries actually funded expeditions 227 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:38,900 several expeditions to Tahiti for 228 00:10:44,950 --> 00:10:42,170 instance like to cook expedition went 229 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:44,960 down to observe the transit and one of 230 00:10:49,330 --> 00:10:46,370 the reasons why they wanted to observe 231 00:10:52,390 --> 00:10:49,340 it is to is to look at the transit of 232 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:52,400 two very distant locations on the earth 233 00:10:59,620 --> 00:10:55,850 and this would enable them based on the 234 00:11:01,660 --> 00:10:59,630 timing of each of those observations and 235 00:11:03,940 --> 00:11:01,670 a little trigonometry thanks to Sir 236 00:11:07,300 --> 00:11:03,950 Edmund Halley to be able to calculate 237 00:11:09,670 --> 00:11:07,310 that one astronomical unit so this was 238 00:11:13,150 --> 00:11:09,680 really the first time the countries were 239 00:11:16,510 --> 00:11:13,160 investing in science in expeditions to 240 00:11:19,180 --> 00:11:16,520 be able to do a really fabulous of 241 00:11:22,330 --> 00:11:19,190 science and understand our solar system 242 00:11:25,300 --> 00:11:22,340 as we know it today Jim we know you have 243 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:25,310 to leave you're not going you'll be back 244 00:11:28,900 --> 00:11:26,930 little ladies you have you found an 245 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:28,910 event right back I've got to go to event 246 00:11:33,850 --> 00:11:31,090 and it has something to do with this 247 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:33,860 transit of venus is there any going up 248 00:11:38,110 --> 00:11:35,930 there is that is it here riggan actually 249 00:11:39,340 --> 00:11:38,120 go out and observe and yeah so we're 250 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:39,350 going to it we're going to talk to a 251 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:40,970 number of people that are on a roof 252 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:44,210 right now looking at it and enjoying 253 00:11:47,710 --> 00:11:45,650 that and we're going to talk about the 254 00:11:49,660 --> 00:11:47,720 history we're going to talk about the 255 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:49,670 science and we're going to talk about 256 00:11:54,970 --> 00:11:52,130 what transits also mean for other fields 257 00:11:57,340 --> 00:11:54,980 like astronomy and astrophysics you know 258 00:12:00,670 --> 00:11:57,350 we're using that same concept of 259 00:12:03,060 --> 00:12:00,680 transiting planets to find other solar 260 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:03,070 systems around other stars in our galaxy 261 00:12:08,260 --> 00:12:06,290 so it's a historic event on many levels 262 00:12:09,910 --> 00:12:08,270 I'm asking what can I get one of those 263 00:12:11,410 --> 00:12:09,920 buttons what's not better sad I know if 264 00:12:13,630 --> 00:12:11,420 I audience can see that it looks pretty 265 00:12:15,850 --> 00:12:13,640 cool it is a great button but you have 266 00:12:18,610 --> 00:12:15,860 to go out and observe the transit it 267 00:12:20,650 --> 00:12:18,620 says I observed the venus transit of 268 00:12:23,890 --> 00:12:20,660 course you'll have to wear it this way 269 00:12:25,660 --> 00:12:23,900 if you observe the 2004 and this way you 270 00:12:26,590 --> 00:12:25,670 can what you can wear it when you 271 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:26,600 observe the one 272 00:12:31,030 --> 00:12:29,569 tonight this late today in the DC area 273 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:31,040 well Jim we want you to have a great 274 00:12:35,439 --> 00:12:33,290 time you will see a little bit later in 275 00:12:38,590 --> 00:12:35,449 the meantime we have somebody else 276 00:12:41,470 --> 00:12:38,600 standing by at the Johnson Space Center 277 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:41,480 in Houston Mario runco is going to be 278 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:43,490 with us shortly and talk a little bit 279 00:12:49,769 --> 00:12:46,910 more about this Venus transit and what 280 00:12:52,900 --> 00:12:49,779 it means historically scientifically and 281 00:12:55,660 --> 00:12:52,910 talking about his history again we have 282 00:12:58,300 --> 00:12:55,670 a little messy and and before we run the 283 00:12:59,710 --> 00:12:58,310 intro there again stay with us ladies 284 00:13:02,170 --> 00:12:59,720 and gentlemen join the conversation on 285 00:13:03,340 --> 00:13:02,180 social media twitter facebook and this 286 00:13:05,860 --> 00:13:03,350 is the first stop we're going to be 287 00:13:12,519 --> 00:13:05,870 going all over the world let's go to 288 00:13:14,710 --> 00:13:12,529 houston we are now on the eve of a 289 00:13:16,809 --> 00:13:14,720 second transit of a pair after which 290 00:13:19,030 --> 00:13:16,819 there will be no other till the 21st 291 00:13:20,949 --> 00:13:19,040 century of our era has dawned upon the 292 00:13:24,610 --> 00:13:20,959 earth and the june flowers are blooming 293 00:13:26,499 --> 00:13:24,620 in 2004 when the last transit season 294 00:13:28,420 --> 00:13:26,509 occur the intellectual world was 295 00:13:31,030 --> 00:13:28,430 awakening from the slumber of Ages and 296 00:13:32,620 --> 00:13:31,040 that wondrous scientific activity which 297 00:13:35,740 --> 00:13:32,630 has led our present advanced knowledge 298 00:13:37,509 --> 00:13:35,750 was just beginning what will be the 299 00:13:48,990 --> 00:13:37,519 state of science when the next transit 300 00:13:52,860 --> 00:13:50,640 back here at NASA headquarters in 301 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:52,870 Washington DC al Feinberg senior 302 00:13:56,610 --> 00:13:54,970 producer NASA television my colleague 303 00:13:59,130 --> 00:13:56,620 Dwane Brown of the Office of 304 00:14:02,000 --> 00:13:59,140 Communications mission science missions 305 00:14:04,950 --> 00:14:02,010 are in direct and this historic event 306 00:14:08,750 --> 00:14:04,960 not the next one not for another hundred 307 00:14:12,690 --> 00:14:08,760 and five years I'll be around they've 308 00:14:14,340 --> 00:14:12,700 never mind barring a miracle of science 309 00:14:16,560 --> 00:14:14,350 well we're called science Mission 310 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:16,570 Directorate and every night you know the 311 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:19,530 right people we'd like to go now and 312 00:14:23,310 --> 00:14:21,910 we've got people were going to talk to 313 00:14:27,180 --> 00:14:23,320 all over the globe today we're going to 314 00:14:29,070 --> 00:14:27,190 be talking to folks in Australia the our 315 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:29,080 NASA edge colleagues will be at Mauna 316 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:33,250 Kea in Hawaii we've got our hopefully we 317 00:14:38,370 --> 00:14:35,530 can hear from somebody in Fairbanks 318 00:14:40,170 --> 00:14:38,380 Alaska female would be that would go and 319 00:14:41,490 --> 00:14:40,180 some other folks too but in the meantime 320 00:14:45,300 --> 00:14:41,500 let's go to the Johnson Space Center 321 00:14:47,910 --> 00:14:45,310 we're standing by is former astronaut 322 00:14:52,140 --> 00:14:47,920 Mario runco who is considered to be one 323 00:14:55,590 --> 00:14:52,150 of the experts at the regarding the 324 00:15:00,270 --> 00:14:55,600 venus transit good afternoon good good 325 00:15:02,130 --> 00:15:00,280 afternoon sir welcome and thank you good 326 00:15:05,310 --> 00:15:02,140 afternoon to you thanks for having me 327 00:15:07,110 --> 00:15:05,320 tell us something what this means to you 328 00:15:12,090 --> 00:15:07,120 personally this is this a pretty 329 00:15:14,700 --> 00:15:12,100 exciting event well actually it's a 4b 330 00:15:16,770 --> 00:15:14,710 it's an exciting event that goes back of 331 00:15:19,620 --> 00:15:16,780 my interest in space and astronomy tools 332 00:15:21,450 --> 00:15:19,630 since I was a young boy but more 333 00:15:24,860 --> 00:15:21,460 importantly today is the involvement 334 00:15:28,079 --> 00:15:24,870 with the international space station and 335 00:15:29,910 --> 00:15:28,089 the observing of the transit by 336 00:15:33,030 --> 00:15:29,920 astronauts on board particularly 337 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:33,040 astronaut Don Pettit now we understand 338 00:15:43,110 --> 00:15:39,250 that Don is we r during crew sleep so 339 00:15:47,790 --> 00:15:43,120 there's a possibility that we're not 340 00:15:49,620 --> 00:15:47,800 going to be able to see too many shots 341 00:15:52,140 --> 00:15:49,630 is that right but Don's going to be 342 00:15:54,780 --> 00:15:52,150 getting up here periodically and taking 343 00:15:58,199 --> 00:15:54,790 some pictures and shipping them back 344 00:16:00,750 --> 00:15:58,209 down to earth is that right well that's 345 00:16:02,759 --> 00:16:00,760 correct and Dawn I let me clarify the 346 00:16:04,739 --> 00:16:02,769 crew sleep part of that a fish 347 00:16:06,749 --> 00:16:04,749 it's during crew sleep but I suspect 348 00:16:09,350 --> 00:16:06,759 this event to the crew and particularly 349 00:16:11,369 --> 00:16:09,360 dawn is like Christmas Eve and the 350 00:16:12,869 --> 00:16:11,379 presents are going to be under the tree 351 00:16:14,939 --> 00:16:12,879 and you're not going to sleep very well 352 00:16:19,169 --> 00:16:14,949 so don is actually going to be getting 353 00:16:23,100 --> 00:16:19,179 up and taking pictures of the transit of 354 00:16:25,799 --> 00:16:23,110 Venus beginning in shortly here within 355 00:16:27,509 --> 00:16:25,809 the hour and he is going to be taking 356 00:16:30,809 --> 00:16:27,519 the pictures using an 800 millimeter 357 00:16:32,220 --> 00:16:30,819 lens with a high-end nikon camera of 358 00:16:35,009 --> 00:16:32,230 course he has the appropriate safety 359 00:16:37,079 --> 00:16:35,019 solar filter on the end of it and the 360 00:16:40,410 --> 00:16:37,089 prescribed sunglasses to do the 361 00:16:42,119 --> 00:16:40,420 filtering he is and it's a first for the 362 00:16:44,429 --> 00:16:42,129 International Space Station going to 363 00:16:47,309 --> 00:16:44,439 remove an inner pain it's a safety pain 364 00:16:48,660 --> 00:16:47,319 to protect the windows from from being 365 00:16:49,949 --> 00:16:48,670 scratched and alike they're actually 366 00:16:52,289 --> 00:16:49,959 called scratch pains but those inner 367 00:16:54,389 --> 00:16:52,299 pains are not optical quality so those 368 00:16:57,389 --> 00:16:54,399 are going to come off to allow us to get 369 00:17:00,449 --> 00:16:57,399 more detailed sharper clearer images of 370 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:00,459 the transit and as I understand it as 371 00:17:04,889 --> 00:17:02,410 soon as dawn is going to collect a 372 00:17:06,899 --> 00:17:04,899 battery of images he will load them up 373 00:17:10,559 --> 00:17:06,909 for downlink and we'll get those posted 374 00:17:12,809 --> 00:17:10,569 online as quickly as possible well sir 375 00:17:15,090 --> 00:17:12,819 this is Duane Brown and again thanks for 376 00:17:17,549 --> 00:17:15,100 joining us let's uh bring it a little 377 00:17:19,409 --> 00:17:17,559 bit down to earth here we talked about 378 00:17:22,649 --> 00:17:19,419 all of the places all over the world 379 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:22,659 that are going to be monitoring and 380 00:17:27,870 --> 00:17:24,970 observing can you tell us the scene down 381 00:17:30,649 --> 00:17:27,880 in Houston Texas well what's the the the 382 00:17:33,450 --> 00:17:30,659 folks looking at and anything that 383 00:17:36,980 --> 00:17:33,460 really are they excited down there is 384 00:17:40,230 --> 00:17:36,990 the whole world is I'm quite sure right 385 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:40,240 actually very much so it started off 386 00:17:45,629 --> 00:17:43,210 slowly of course as the transit got 387 00:17:48,510 --> 00:17:45,639 closer the interest of course built over 388 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:48,520 time particularly once we found out that 389 00:17:54,149 --> 00:17:51,490 Dawn was going to be taking the images 390 00:17:56,340 --> 00:17:54,159 of course that swept up most of the 391 00:17:57,539 --> 00:17:56,350 people here immediately at the Johnson 392 00:18:00,810 --> 00:17:57,549 Space Center but in the wider community 393 00:18:02,730 --> 00:18:00,820 as well and and the historical 394 00:18:04,649 --> 00:18:02,740 perspective is quite interesting from 395 00:18:07,909 --> 00:18:04,659 from my point of view and I guess a 396 00:18:11,129 --> 00:18:07,919 variety of folks here is that it 397 00:18:14,399 --> 00:18:11,139 pinpoints in time the technology we have 398 00:18:15,460 --> 00:18:14,409 today to observe the transit of Venus 399 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:15,470 you guys mentioned 400 00:18:20,620 --> 00:18:17,210 the Hubble Space Telescope we have the 401 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:20,630 Soho satellite and others observing and 402 00:18:25,750 --> 00:18:22,730 we have the International Space Station 403 00:18:28,659 --> 00:18:25,760 of course we talked about James Cook the 404 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:28,669 english explorer that that went to 405 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:30,850 Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus 406 00:18:37,990 --> 00:18:33,530 like we are talking about him and 407 00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:38,000 previous observations juxtaposed in time 408 00:18:44,260 --> 00:18:42,110 in 2012 we're people in the future we'll 409 00:18:46,750 --> 00:18:44,270 talk about what is now in orbit the 410 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:46,760 International Space Station probably the 411 00:18:51,970 --> 00:18:48,890 personalities in Don Pettit and and 412 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:51,980 several of us dr. Greene etc and then 413 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:54,530 and then who knows like you said as in 414 00:18:59,710 --> 00:18:56,570 the future what will what will hold in 415 00:19:01,720 --> 00:18:59,720 2117 on the next transit as to what we 416 00:19:03,789 --> 00:19:01,730 will be using what will be in orbit what 417 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:03,799 spacecraft will have we may have even 418 00:19:10,149 --> 00:19:06,890 have people who have orbited Venus at 419 00:19:12,850 --> 00:19:10,159 that point in time this is dwayne well 420 00:19:15,180 --> 00:19:12,860 just a follow-up on that looking into 421 00:19:18,190 --> 00:19:15,190 the future and opening and venus and 422 00:19:22,149 --> 00:19:18,200 exciting times for NASA with the recent 423 00:19:24,190 --> 00:19:22,159 success of SpaceX and things in to put 424 00:19:26,980 --> 00:19:24,200 it in context the synergy between 425 00:19:28,630 --> 00:19:26,990 science and human spaceflight describe 426 00:19:34,090 --> 00:19:28,640 that force I think the future is bright 427 00:19:36,220 --> 00:19:34,100 for both absolutely and I'll put that in 428 00:19:40,510 --> 00:19:36,230 a historical perspective because years 429 00:19:44,230 --> 00:19:40,520 ago folks used to be an efficient out of 430 00:19:47,110 --> 00:19:44,240 a fan of robotic missions of exploration 431 00:19:49,180 --> 00:19:47,120 in that mode and and then there was the 432 00:19:51,399 --> 00:19:49,190 manned space program and and there were 433 00:19:54,549 --> 00:19:51,409 two separate camps but I think today 434 00:19:57,340 --> 00:19:54,559 nowadays most people understand that the 435 00:19:59,770 --> 00:19:57,350 two are very synergistic the robotics 436 00:20:01,480 --> 00:19:59,780 mission certainly can go farther afield 437 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:01,490 a lot more quickly because we don't have 438 00:20:08,740 --> 00:20:04,850 to worry about keeping people safe and 439 00:20:09,970 --> 00:20:08,750 alive for a two-way transit maybe one 440 00:20:11,890 --> 00:20:09,980 day they'll be one way where they'll 441 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:11,900 just send them out and they they will 442 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:14,090 establish colonies and they won't return 443 00:20:20,890 --> 00:20:17,090 but I think the real question the what 444 00:20:23,409 --> 00:20:20,900 really makes the the exploration 445 00:20:26,230 --> 00:20:23,419 exciting that brings people in is having 446 00:20:29,260 --> 00:20:26,240 people it directly involved and and what 447 00:20:32,110 --> 00:20:29,270 what what the human brings to the table 448 00:20:34,210 --> 00:20:32,120 example if we go to Mars the the aspect 449 00:20:35,590 --> 00:20:34,220 and actually let me mention the mars 450 00:20:37,540 --> 00:20:35,600 science laboratory is going to arrive 451 00:20:39,990 --> 00:20:37,550 there this summer it's a it's a new 452 00:20:43,650 --> 00:20:40,000 robotic probe that's about the size of a 453 00:20:46,060 --> 00:20:43,660 Volkswagen Beetle the most capable 454 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:46,070 exploration rover we've had to date it 455 00:20:51,430 --> 00:20:49,250 is going to be there but it is it is 456 00:20:53,170 --> 00:20:51,440 limited in its variety and that's a 457 00:20:55,780 --> 00:20:53,180 limitation of our technology today and 458 00:20:57,070 --> 00:20:55,790 what it can do it's very capable more so 459 00:20:59,950 --> 00:20:57,080 than anything we've sent there in the 460 00:21:04,000 --> 00:20:59,960 past but the real ingenuity the thinking 461 00:21:05,710 --> 00:21:04,010 the the discovery the creative aspect to 462 00:21:08,260 --> 00:21:05,720 know what's important to know what to 463 00:21:10,270 --> 00:21:08,270 look for beyond the programming is where 464 00:21:12,490 --> 00:21:10,280 the human being comes in and indeed that 465 00:21:15,490 --> 00:21:12,500 happened in our lunar exploration when 466 00:21:17,350 --> 00:21:15,500 we brought back rocks from Apollo there 467 00:21:19,270 --> 00:21:17,360 are certain ones that were noted to be 468 00:21:21,490 --> 00:21:19,280 different and picked up and brought back 469 00:21:22,930 --> 00:21:21,500 and they taught us so much about the 470 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:22,940 moon the evolution of the solar system 471 00:21:29,590 --> 00:21:26,450 and so I think it's really a win-win 472 00:21:31,450 --> 00:21:29,600 situation for both we need the robotic 473 00:21:34,150 --> 00:21:31,460 probes certainly to answer some of the 474 00:21:36,250 --> 00:21:34,160 preliminary scientific questions but to 475 00:21:38,410 --> 00:21:36,260 solve the riddle to find out if there's 476 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:38,420 life for example to dig underneath the 477 00:21:44,020 --> 00:21:40,250 rock that can't be moved by the robot 478 00:21:46,210 --> 00:21:44,030 you want the person there Oh Mario thank 479 00:21:49,630 --> 00:21:46,220 you so much for joining us we're going 480 00:21:51,250 --> 00:21:49,640 to be going to another guest in a few 481 00:21:54,790 --> 00:21:51,260 minutes but we want to thank you very 482 00:21:57,580 --> 00:21:54,800 much and we hope you enjoy this evening 483 00:21:59,260 --> 00:21:57,590 as much as we know we will and police 484 00:22:01,060 --> 00:21:59,270 say had it on for us up in the station 485 00:22:05,500 --> 00:22:01,070 and we'll look forward to seeing his 486 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:05,510 imagery thank you sir ok thank you very 487 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:09,890 much happy viewing right Thanks okay 488 00:22:14,230 --> 00:22:12,050 Dwayne it if this is this is going to be 489 00:22:16,450 --> 00:22:14,240 quite an evening yeah we just started 490 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:16,460 and if there's more to come yeah 491 00:22:22,090 --> 00:22:19,450 absolutely we're going to go I think 492 00:22:24,940 --> 00:22:22,100 Jason Townsend our social media maven 493 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:24,950 has an image is that right Jason that 494 00:22:30,700 --> 00:22:28,490 you you have for us is that right we've 495 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:30,710 beginning to get some good images in 496 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:31,970 here from the Solar Dynamics Observatory 497 00:22:38,680 --> 00:22:35,810 we just retweeted a camila sto for those 498 00:22:40,660 --> 00:22:38,690 of you who follow her on Twitter we put 499 00:22:42,150 --> 00:22:40,670 her out and there's an image that's from 500 00:22:45,570 --> 00:22:42,160 the the 211 wave 501 00:22:46,860 --> 00:22:45,580 from sto and it's been put out on the at 502 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:46,870 NASA account so if you're not following 503 00:22:50,190 --> 00:22:48,970 along follow us on Twitter we're at at 504 00:22:52,050 --> 00:22:50,200 NASA we're getting ready to post it up 505 00:22:54,450 --> 00:22:52,060 onto facebook and everything but it's a 506 00:22:55,980 --> 00:22:54,460 beautiful shot with Venus just beginning 507 00:22:58,380 --> 00:22:55,990 to pop into the field of view here and 508 00:23:00,270 --> 00:22:58,390 begin its transit across the Sun so 509 00:23:01,860 --> 00:23:00,280 stick with us remember to follow along 510 00:23:04,890 --> 00:23:01,870 if you're Alan social media talking 511 00:23:07,140 --> 00:23:04,900 about this make sure to use pound venus 512 00:23:09,030 --> 00:23:07,150 transit that's the hashtag for tonight 513 00:23:12,450 --> 00:23:09,040 and join the conversation hop online 514 00:23:14,220 --> 00:23:12,460 thanks guys all right thanks Jason and 515 00:23:15,900 --> 00:23:14,230 we'll get those imagery up for you as 516 00:23:19,470 --> 00:23:15,910 soon as possible so you can see it right 517 00:23:20,730 --> 00:23:19,480 here with us as well we are going to be 518 00:23:22,950 --> 00:23:20,740 going to the Goddard Space Flight Center 519 00:23:27,570 --> 00:23:22,960 where we're going to be chatting with 520 00:23:30,180 --> 00:23:27,580 another expert to talk about this Venus 521 00:23:34,010 --> 00:23:30,190 transit and what this means and perhaps 522 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:34,020 we can find out from dr. Jim Garvin 523 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:38,650 exactly why this happens like every 105 524 00:23:43,980 --> 00:23:42,970 years yeah and you know when one Jim you 525 00:23:45,690 --> 00:23:43,990 know we got a lot of gentleman Jim 526 00:23:47,580 --> 00:23:45,700 Garvin just have Jim Green so popular 527 00:23:49,950 --> 00:23:47,590 lane but these guys are the best of the 528 00:23:51,810 --> 00:23:49,960 best and you know what the Gulf Space 529 00:23:53,220 --> 00:23:51,820 Flight Center in Greenbelt Maryland they 530 00:23:55,650 --> 00:23:53,230 have the home to the Hubble Space 531 00:23:58,560 --> 00:23:55,660 Telescope their home to the James Webb 532 00:24:00,750 --> 00:23:58,570 Space Telescope the next generation is 533 00:24:04,230 --> 00:24:00,760 some folks call Hubble two point oh and 534 00:24:06,090 --> 00:24:04,240 this is why we're so excited I'll not 535 00:24:08,010 --> 00:24:06,100 only to be a part of this but the 536 00:24:08,940 --> 00:24:08,020 incredible things on the horizon for the 537 00:24:10,470 --> 00:24:08,950 National Aeronautics and Space 538 00:24:13,650 --> 00:24:10,480 Administration in God Space Flight 539 00:24:16,050 --> 00:24:13,660 Center is playing a extremely vital part 540 00:24:19,710 --> 00:24:16,060 in making that happen to hell but this 541 00:24:21,270 --> 00:24:19,720 is about Venus and I don't know we're 542 00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:21,280 here we're going to be going around the 543 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:24,130 world we got our main man Jason doing 544 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:26,170 social media and we missing anything 545 00:24:29,940 --> 00:24:28,510 here I mean well I think we took we 546 00:24:33,990 --> 00:24:29,950 talked a little bit when we can we can 547 00:24:35,190 --> 00:24:34,000 start showing up perhaps a little bit of 548 00:24:37,230 --> 00:24:35,200 information about some of the other 549 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:37,240 locales will be going to at some point 550 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:40,510 there you can see guys the folks at NASA 551 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:42,910 edge we're going to be going to them at 552 00:24:49,260 --> 00:24:45,730 six oh three Eastern which is coming up 553 00:24:52,730 --> 00:24:49,270 in another guess 13 14 minutes and they 554 00:24:55,950 --> 00:24:52,740 are going to get us into the ingress of 555 00:24:58,050 --> 00:24:55,960 Venus as it starts crossing the 556 00:25:02,040 --> 00:24:58,060 face of the Sun now some of the other 557 00:25:05,220 --> 00:25:02,050 locales let's go and show you that's 558 00:25:08,370 --> 00:25:05,230 there they are there in Hawaii there's 559 00:25:10,950 --> 00:25:08,380 the horn flag is that right wow that is 560 00:25:13,010 --> 00:25:10,960 great and here are some of the other 561 00:25:16,020 --> 00:25:13,020 locales we've got the NASA edge Hawaii 562 00:25:18,950 --> 00:25:16,030 Milton Mount Wilson Observatory in 563 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:18,960 California the Glenn Research Center in 564 00:25:24,990 --> 00:25:22,530 Cleveland at Alice Springs northern 565 00:25:28,650 --> 00:25:25,000 territory australia which is right in 566 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:28,660 the smack dab in the middle of the of 567 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:32,050 the down unda and that we've got the 568 00:25:36,540 --> 00:25:34,210 folks from the coca-cola space science 569 00:25:38,580 --> 00:25:36,550 center at Columbus State University in 570 00:25:42,030 --> 00:25:38,590 Georgia they're there they actually 571 00:25:44,870 --> 00:25:42,040 Duane they also have a team at in 572 00:25:48,510 --> 00:25:44,880 Mongolia I believe will also be there 573 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:48,520 we're going to have a web stream coming 574 00:25:53,010 --> 00:25:51,010 from Norway and this one is one of my 575 00:25:54,570 --> 00:25:53,020 most yeah I was much really I was 576 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:54,580 waiting for you how do you pronounce it 577 00:25:58,640 --> 00:25:56,650 and I believe its much hoole much will 578 00:26:02,760 --> 00:25:58,650 the United Kingdom that's in Lancashire 579 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:02,770 Great Britain and that is where they're 580 00:26:08,990 --> 00:26:05,890 having a special web stream at the 581 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:09,000 church st. Michael's Church where 582 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:14,170 Jeremiah Horrocks was he and as part i 583 00:26:21,570 --> 00:26:17,050 think was Jeremiah Craven am i right who 584 00:26:25,470 --> 00:26:21,580 first observed the venus transit i think 585 00:26:27,150 --> 00:26:25,480 it was in 1631 now we'll look if that 586 00:26:29,700 --> 00:26:27,160 really we have all kinds of years and 587 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:29,710 dates lying around real real cool so and 588 00:26:35,850 --> 00:26:31,930 Fairbanks Alaska will be it will be in 589 00:26:39,810 --> 00:26:35,860 Fairbanks the Indian astronomic 590 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:39,820 Observatory in Hanley India and we're 591 00:26:43,220 --> 00:26:41,050 going to have a feed from the european 592 00:26:45,870 --> 00:26:43,230 space agency easa they're going to have 593 00:26:48,450 --> 00:26:45,880 some information coming down from the 594 00:26:52,730 --> 00:26:48,460 venus transit satellite that they have 595 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:52,740 that is doing a polar orbit of Venus and 596 00:26:58,260 --> 00:26:55,770 that's coming through small barred 597 00:27:01,110 --> 00:26:58,270 Norway I believe that's where their 598 00:27:04,050 --> 00:27:01,120 space station is and interesting thing 599 00:27:05,010 --> 00:27:04,060 about Svalbard which I've I don't know 600 00:27:07,530 --> 00:27:05,020 if you're aware that 601 00:27:09,540 --> 00:27:07,540 but I is just a man of knowledge just 602 00:27:11,580 --> 00:27:09,550 keep keeping on man I'm looking find out 603 00:27:13,620 --> 00:27:11,590 a lot on the internet yeah well you know 604 00:27:15,690 --> 00:27:13,630 like maybe we should go to some of these 605 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:15,700 clothes I think we can I'd love to do 606 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:18,730 that actually but small board is the 607 00:27:27,300 --> 00:27:24,970 place where the world sends its seeds to 608 00:27:30,390 --> 00:27:27,310 be stored in the event of some 609 00:27:32,850 --> 00:27:30,400 catastrophe some world famine so that 610 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:32,860 everything is protected there's a deep 611 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:35,650 vault in this mountain and because it's 612 00:27:39,630 --> 00:27:38,050 so cold that you know it is another 613 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:39,640 performs another layer of protection and 614 00:27:47,460 --> 00:27:44,170 it's the global seed center seed storage 615 00:27:49,710 --> 00:27:47,470 centers out and it's the point quite 616 00:27:50,580 --> 00:27:49,720 interesting but that's also there and 617 00:27:52,260 --> 00:27:50,590 then of course we've got the 618 00:27:53,850 --> 00:27:52,270 International Space Station well I guess 619 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:53,860 it's safe to say and we've been saying 620 00:27:57,300 --> 00:27:55,210 this to begin to program and gentlemen 621 00:27:59,640 --> 00:27:57,310 this is a global watch for the venus 622 00:28:01,650 --> 00:27:59,650 transit and my colleague here al you 623 00:28:04,170 --> 00:28:01,660 know that's some of the places that we 624 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:04,180 hope to bring some of the live coverage 625 00:28:08,940 --> 00:28:06,250 there but there are places in viewing 626 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:08,950 areas all over the world fact al it's my 627 00:28:13,650 --> 00:28:10,570 understanding that they are stadiums 628 00:28:15,180 --> 00:28:13,660 that are going to be hosting thousands 629 00:28:17,970 --> 00:28:15,190 and thousands of people just for the 630 00:28:21,390 --> 00:28:17,980 viewing you know sports stadiums i think 631 00:28:23,460 --> 00:28:21,400 that is very very very cool it is global 632 00:28:27,710 --> 00:28:23,470 follow the conversation on social media 633 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:27,720 all of you Facebook Twitter YouTube 634 00:28:32,310 --> 00:28:30,490 watch it I know you're out there we got 635 00:28:34,740 --> 00:28:32,320 a main man JSON Townsend we're going to 636 00:28:37,500 --> 00:28:34,750 have fun and this is just beginning keep 637 00:28:39,420 --> 00:28:37,510 staying with this out I'm hopefully we 638 00:28:41,580 --> 00:28:39,430 can get outside and even see this but if 639 00:28:44,730 --> 00:28:41,590 not I'm happy and i can't wait for a 640 00:28:47,930 --> 00:28:44,740 next guess well in a few minutes in a 641 00:28:51,660 --> 00:28:47,940 few minutes we're going to be starting 642 00:28:54,330 --> 00:28:51,670 the ingress 603 eastern time and we'll 643 00:28:55,530 --> 00:28:54,340 be going to NASA edge and then maybe we 644 00:28:57,030 --> 00:28:55,540 can get outside because there's still 645 00:28:58,680 --> 00:28:57,040 some hours with light hair and hopefully 646 00:29:01,770 --> 00:28:58,690 there's no cloud cover but now let's go 647 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:01,780 over to our colleague dr. Jim Garvin the 648 00:29:06,060 --> 00:29:03,370 chief scientist at the Goddard Space 649 00:29:08,970 --> 00:29:06,070 Flight Center a great hockey fan as well 650 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:08,980 but Jim tell us about tonight and why 651 00:29:15,820 --> 00:29:13,210 this is so exciting well hi Alan Duane 652 00:29:18,620 --> 00:29:15,830 it's great to be here at 653 00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:18,630 tonight's really special because this is 654 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:22,650 a very rare astronomical event and what 655 00:29:27,830 --> 00:29:24,810 we can learn from it is really a dry run 656 00:29:30,140 --> 00:29:27,840 for how we can observe like planets or 657 00:29:33,640 --> 00:29:30,150 earth-sized planets transit other sons 658 00:29:36,590 --> 00:29:33,650 so while this is an event here and now 659 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:36,600 so a proving ground for how we can 660 00:29:40,790 --> 00:29:38,850 discover extrasolar planets and even 661 00:29:42,980 --> 00:29:40,800 start to tell whether they're more like 662 00:29:44,930 --> 00:29:42,990 Venus or more like Earth so for all of 663 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:44,940 us interested in the solar system we can 664 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:47,370 actually think beyond into the larger 665 00:29:54,850 --> 00:29:51,570 universe from this event now for those 666 00:29:58,070 --> 00:29:54,860 of you not in the know in the past 667 00:30:01,580 --> 00:29:58,080 several years I guess through one of the 668 00:30:03,740 --> 00:30:01,590 NASA missions Kepler there have been 669 00:30:06,740 --> 00:30:03,750 identified at least what seven hundred 670 00:30:10,430 --> 00:30:06,750 planets outside of our solar system 671 00:30:14,450 --> 00:30:10,440 called XO solar planets and using the 672 00:30:18,260 --> 00:30:14,460 same phenomenon a transit in front of a 673 00:30:20,270 --> 00:30:18,270 planet or in front of a star similar to 674 00:30:24,500 --> 00:30:20,280 what Venus is doing in front of our star 675 00:30:26,630 --> 00:30:24,510 the Sun is that right Jim that's right 676 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:26,640 then in fact that's why this is so 677 00:30:30,710 --> 00:30:28,710 important we're now from a space-age 678 00:30:32,750 --> 00:30:30,720 perspective a spaceborne perspective 679 00:30:35,810 --> 00:30:32,760 seeing what we're trying to understand 680 00:30:39,380 --> 00:30:35,820 around other stars and in fact trying to 681 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:39,390 trying to use Venus as a proving case to 682 00:30:44,660 --> 00:30:41,370 understand the difference between a big 683 00:30:47,450 --> 00:30:44,670 hot orange ball planet like Venus vs are 684 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:47,460 pale blue dot earth is one of the most 685 00:30:51,170 --> 00:30:48,930 important kind of things we can do and 686 00:30:52,940 --> 00:30:51,180 as we look forward in exploring the 687 00:30:54,410 --> 00:30:52,950 universe that's one of the things we 688 00:30:56,180 --> 00:30:54,420 want to be able to tell the atmosphere 689 00:30:57,860 --> 00:30:56,190 of Venus is in a different state than 690 00:31:01,040 --> 00:30:57,870 that of our own planet which of course 691 00:31:02,660 --> 00:31:01,050 is where we live and hospitable so as as 692 00:31:04,910 --> 00:31:02,670 important as this is right here in our 693 00:31:07,190 --> 00:31:04,920 solar system it's also important as we 694 00:31:08,930 --> 00:31:07,200 look beyond and it also reminds us as we 695 00:31:10,790 --> 00:31:08,940 think about Venus on this historic date 696 00:31:12,860 --> 00:31:10,800 how little we know of our sister planet 697 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:12,870 I mean to me that's one of the exciting 698 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:15,570 things we got to get there to understand 699 00:31:23,190 --> 00:31:21,060 Jim this is Duane again thanks for 700 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:23,200 joining us and you know and I told our 701 00:31:26,609 --> 00:31:25,090 audience at the top of the program I 702 00:31:28,649 --> 00:31:26,619 have one of the coolest jobs working 703 00:31:30,749 --> 00:31:28,659 with incredible scientists as yourself 704 00:31:34,019 --> 00:31:30,759 i'm at i've read a little bit because i 705 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:34,029 know you're working an incredible strat 706 00:31:39,419 --> 00:31:37,210 new strategy for mars and i know this is 707 00:31:42,779 --> 00:31:39,429 about Venus but kind of put it in 708 00:31:46,019 --> 00:31:42,789 context about Mars what's going on and 709 00:31:48,450 --> 00:31:46,029 how perhaps Venus and Mars I know you 710 00:31:50,340 --> 00:31:48,460 had mentioned earth how they may love 711 00:31:52,830 --> 00:31:50,350 how they certainly differ but any 712 00:31:54,269 --> 00:31:52,840 similarities but before you do that tell 713 00:31:58,830 --> 00:31:54,279 us what's on the horizon for the news 714 00:32:00,899 --> 00:31:58,840 Maha Mars planning program well first 715 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:00,909 Wayne what's most exciting in the near 716 00:32:06,869 --> 00:32:04,450 term for Mars is we're we're a month or 717 00:32:09,210 --> 00:32:06,879 two away from a historic landing of the 718 00:32:11,700 --> 00:32:09,220 first surface observatory of the class 719 00:32:14,190 --> 00:32:11,710 of in history called the Mars Science 720 00:32:17,399 --> 00:32:14,200 Lab and I think the Mars Science Lab in 721 00:32:19,350 --> 00:32:17,409 that rover Curiosity an investment in 10 722 00:32:21,389 --> 00:32:19,360 years 12 years of work by the Mars 723 00:32:24,389 --> 00:32:21,399 community really puts into perspective 724 00:32:26,100 --> 00:32:24,399 we've come out of the kindergarten age 725 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:26,110 of exploring Mars into a much higher 726 00:32:30,210 --> 00:32:28,330 state and the Mars Science Lab will be 727 00:32:32,009 --> 00:32:30,220 asking the kinds of questions that we 728 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:32,019 ask even about places here on earth on 729 00:32:37,350 --> 00:32:34,450 another world with a robotic laboratory 730 00:32:39,090 --> 00:32:37,360 of robotic surface observatory so as we 731 00:32:41,340 --> 00:32:39,100 plan the future of Mars we're going to 732 00:32:43,019 --> 00:32:41,350 learn from the Mars Science Lab and 733 00:32:45,090 --> 00:32:43,029 that's landings coming up in August 734 00:32:47,940 --> 00:32:45,100 fifth and sixth here on earth another 735 00:32:50,369 --> 00:32:47,950 big solar system event in this year and 736 00:32:52,350 --> 00:32:50,379 that landing will help us in the science 737 00:32:54,359 --> 00:32:52,360 from that mission help us to understand 738 00:32:56,669 --> 00:32:54,369 the kind of questions as we probe the 739 00:32:58,200 --> 00:32:56,679 world of Mars compare it to earth the 740 00:33:00,090 --> 00:32:58,210 kind of questions that were left for the 741 00:33:02,369 --> 00:33:00,100 planet Venus we've never done anything 742 00:33:05,009 --> 00:33:02,379 like the voyages of exploration we've 743 00:33:06,869 --> 00:33:05,019 done at Mars as you know Dwayne the Mars 744 00:33:08,220 --> 00:33:06,879 exploration Rovers even going all the 745 00:33:10,739 --> 00:33:08,230 way back to the Viking mission the 746 00:33:12,899 --> 00:33:10,749 Mariner 9 those missions at Mars have 747 00:33:14,940 --> 00:33:12,909 opened the Martian frontier and now as 748 00:33:17,759 --> 00:33:14,950 we watch this historic transit of Venus 749 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:17,769 we wonder about that Venus frontier what 750 00:33:21,299 --> 00:33:19,450 could we find I'd like to tell the kids 751 00:33:23,879 --> 00:33:21,309 there's a pony out there we just have to 752 00:33:26,159 --> 00:33:23,889 find it so but let me come back Mars is 753 00:33:28,169 --> 00:33:26,169 in a very important state of changing 754 00:33:30,599 --> 00:33:28,179 knowledge we know where we need to go we 755 00:33:31,549 --> 00:33:30,609 know what we could possibly find and so 756 00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:31,559 we're planning 757 00:33:35,539 --> 00:33:33,450 big team across across the country 758 00:33:37,580 --> 00:33:35,549 across the world a workshop in Houston 759 00:33:39,649 --> 00:33:37,590 in about two weeks in fact to bring 760 00:33:41,899 --> 00:33:39,659 together those ideas we're planning what 761 00:33:44,330 --> 00:33:41,909 that future could be responding to what 762 00:33:46,340 --> 00:33:44,340 the Mars Science Lab will tell us and we 763 00:33:47,659 --> 00:33:46,350 can't really foresee that until until 764 00:33:49,669 --> 00:33:47,669 she makes those of those measurements 765 00:33:51,169 --> 00:33:49,679 but also responding to what we've 766 00:33:53,419 --> 00:33:51,179 learned for the last decade of the Mars 767 00:33:55,610 --> 00:33:53,429 exploration program how do we explore a 768 00:33:58,399 --> 00:33:55,620 potentially habitable world how do we 769 00:34:01,730 --> 00:33:58,409 find those those fingerprints those 770 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:01,740 clues it's kind of like CSI does Mars to 771 00:34:05,749 --> 00:34:03,690 what might be preservation of past 772 00:34:08,059 --> 00:34:05,759 records of life if there was ever ever 773 00:34:10,190 --> 00:34:08,069 any how would we find extant life if it 774 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:10,200 ever were to exist on Mars these tough 775 00:34:14,899 --> 00:34:12,210 questions are part of the planning 776 00:34:16,550 --> 00:34:14,909 horizon we have guided by the strong 777 00:34:18,409 --> 00:34:16,560 recommendations from the National 778 00:34:20,899 --> 00:34:18,419 Academy of Sciences which has given us 779 00:34:22,909 --> 00:34:20,909 if you will a blueprint for planetary 780 00:34:25,010 --> 00:34:22,919 exploration for the next decade from 781 00:34:27,770 --> 00:34:25,020 what they call a decadal survey so for 782 00:34:29,899 --> 00:34:27,780 Mars lots coming Mars Science Lab and 783 00:34:32,119 --> 00:34:29,909 maven the next two missions and after 784 00:34:34,700 --> 00:34:32,129 that an open frontier of possibilities 785 00:34:37,069 --> 00:34:34,710 of course central to them is finding a 786 00:34:39,260 --> 00:34:37,079 way to bring back materials from Mars to 787 00:34:41,419 --> 00:34:39,270 our earth labs so we can basically 788 00:34:43,490 --> 00:34:41,429 generate science there will be a gift 789 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:43,500 that keeps on giving those samples like 790 00:34:47,149 --> 00:34:45,450 we have from the moon the ones we need 791 00:34:49,790 --> 00:34:47,159 from Mars will be that kind of legacy 792 00:34:53,210 --> 00:34:49,800 now what that does for us though Dwayne 793 00:34:55,550 --> 00:34:53,220 and Al is bring us back to Venus so why 794 00:34:57,980 --> 00:34:55,560 aren't we there on Venus with this great 795 00:35:00,230 --> 00:34:57,990 program of exploring Mars heading out to 796 00:35:02,329 --> 00:35:00,240 Pluto going back to Jupiter exploring 797 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:02,339 Saturn what's wrong with Venus you might 798 00:35:06,380 --> 00:35:04,170 ask particularly on this moment of the 799 00:35:08,569 --> 00:35:06,390 transit as it's about to begin and the 800 00:35:11,540 --> 00:35:08,579 problem is Venus is one president one 801 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:11,550 set is really hot and to get to Venus 802 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:13,050 and do the kind of things we want to do 803 00:35:18,230 --> 00:35:14,730 the kind of things we're doing on Mars 804 00:35:19,700 --> 00:35:18,240 takes new technology creativity new 805 00:35:21,620 --> 00:35:19,710 classes of instruments because the 806 00:35:23,900 --> 00:35:21,630 environment there at the surface is just 807 00:35:27,109 --> 00:35:23,910 so inhospitable it's unimaginably 808 00:35:29,089 --> 00:35:27,119 different than Earth and Mars so here we 809 00:35:31,190 --> 00:35:29,099 sit as we're about to explore Mars in 810 00:35:33,290 --> 00:35:31,200 the major next step and we think back at 811 00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:33,300 our sister planet Venus and say well 812 00:35:42,940 --> 00:35:36,770 someday we got to get back there Jim 813 00:35:44,900 --> 00:35:42,950 question with this Venus transit 814 00:35:48,140 --> 00:35:44,910 obviously there 815 00:35:50,630 --> 00:35:48,150 is there are expectations scientific 816 00:35:54,010 --> 00:35:50,640 expectations about some of the things we 817 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:54,020 might learn can you prioritize for us 818 00:36:00,319 --> 00:35:56,490 maybe the top three things that you 819 00:36:05,990 --> 00:36:00,329 would like to see us learn through this 820 00:36:07,940 --> 00:36:06,000 from this Venus transit of 2012 well I 821 00:36:09,890 --> 00:36:07,950 think I think al there's there's at 822 00:36:11,839 --> 00:36:09,900 least at least three and let me give 823 00:36:13,700 --> 00:36:11,849 them to you in sort of no absolute 824 00:36:15,470 --> 00:36:13,710 priority order because it all depends on 825 00:36:17,299 --> 00:36:15,480 the scientists making the observations 826 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:17,309 how important they are and it's always 827 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:20,010 hard to judge our kids if you will the 828 00:36:23,329 --> 00:36:21,210 first thing we're going to be doing is 829 00:36:25,010 --> 00:36:23,339 using the Solar Dynamics Observatory we 830 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:25,020 will be for the first time having a 831 00:36:30,710 --> 00:36:27,690 high-resolution spaceborne view of in 832 00:36:33,859 --> 00:36:30,720 sort of movie mode of what's going on as 833 00:36:35,450 --> 00:36:33,869 Venus occults the Sun tonight for the 834 00:36:38,539 --> 00:36:35,460 for the six to seven hours that it will 835 00:36:41,029 --> 00:36:38,549 last and by timing precisely the 836 00:36:42,650 --> 00:36:41,039 information we collect from the various 837 00:36:46,190 --> 00:36:42,660 imaging systems and imaging spectrometer 838 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:46,200 Zaun s do we can better better quantify 839 00:36:51,109 --> 00:36:49,170 exactly where things are in its in its 840 00:36:53,930 --> 00:36:51,119 instruments fields of you and that kind 841 00:36:56,359 --> 00:36:53,940 of geometric improvement will be 842 00:36:57,680 --> 00:36:56,369 extremely important for calibrating 843 00:36:59,660 --> 00:36:57,690 those instruments to make even better 844 00:37:02,210 --> 00:36:59,670 measurements of the Sun as part of the 845 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:02,220 sdl mission number two we are going to 846 00:37:07,430 --> 00:37:05,010 try a very novel new kind of experiment 847 00:37:10,069 --> 00:37:07,440 again a practice for things we might be 848 00:37:12,049 --> 00:37:10,079 able to do is we look to other Suns and 849 00:37:14,539 --> 00:37:12,059 planets around them by using the Hubble 850 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:14,549 Space Telescope in a which is a very 851 00:37:18,859 --> 00:37:16,170 challenging kind of observation but a 852 00:37:22,130 --> 00:37:18,869 very exciting one to observe the faint 853 00:37:24,260 --> 00:37:22,140 variations in the end the change in 854 00:37:26,059 --> 00:37:24,270 light as Venus crosses this across as 855 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:26,069 the Sun as reflected on the surface of 856 00:37:30,319 --> 00:37:27,690 the Moon now we've looked at the moon 857 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:30,329 with humble as an object of exploration 858 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:32,490 in 2005 and before but this will be 859 00:37:37,039 --> 00:37:34,770 different we'll be watching the moon to 860 00:37:39,650 --> 00:37:37,049 see the effects of the transit of Venus 861 00:37:42,049 --> 00:37:39,660 on the Sun and try to see very very 862 00:37:44,120 --> 00:37:42,059 faint you know less than one percent 863 00:37:46,880 --> 00:37:44,130 changes in the reflectivity of the light 864 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:46,890 on the moon from Venus on the Sun to 865 00:37:50,510 --> 00:37:48,690 understand some of the subtleties of the 866 00:37:53,180 --> 00:37:50,520 atmospheric chemistry of Venus and Venus 867 00:37:56,150 --> 00:37:53,190 atmosphere is like a giant chemistry lab 868 00:37:58,030 --> 00:37:56,160 of planetary evolution it's so big it's 869 00:38:00,220 --> 00:37:58,040 changed we think dramatic 870 00:38:01,810 --> 00:38:00,230 since the time the planet was born over 871 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:01,820 four and a half billion years ago so 872 00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:03,170 it's a record book and we want to 873 00:38:07,210 --> 00:38:05,330 measure its chemistry using every 874 00:38:09,340 --> 00:38:07,220 inventive technique we can so the hubble 875 00:38:11,350 --> 00:38:09,350 experiment is another one other 876 00:38:14,470 --> 00:38:11,360 satellites reci and some of the 877 00:38:16,180 --> 00:38:14,480 satellites that are from ISA and Japan 878 00:38:19,270 --> 00:38:16,190 will be making independent observations 879 00:38:21,790 --> 00:38:19,280 all coordinated as a giant science 880 00:38:24,580 --> 00:38:21,800 network or family across the world and 881 00:38:27,010 --> 00:38:24,590 so those together will try to peel but 882 00:38:29,170 --> 00:38:27,020 try to extract if you will subtleties of 883 00:38:30,580 --> 00:38:29,180 the makeup of that atmosphere of Venus 884 00:38:33,670 --> 00:38:30,590 which we just haven't gotten that far 885 00:38:35,860 --> 00:38:33,680 probing we have limited success with our 886 00:38:38,230 --> 00:38:35,870 measurements thus far here in the United 887 00:38:39,610 --> 00:38:38,240 States understanding this massive 888 00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:39,620 atmosphere of our nearest neighbor 889 00:38:45,820 --> 00:38:43,490 planet Jim this is dewayne it's always a 890 00:38:47,710 --> 00:38:45,830 pleasure to have you a part of the shows 891 00:38:50,140 --> 00:38:47,720 like this Simone you for a long time 892 00:38:52,870 --> 00:38:50,150 thank you for your time and enjoy this 893 00:38:56,470 --> 00:38:52,880 evening and we'll see you at Mars and 894 00:38:59,260 --> 00:38:56,480 enjoy the show thanks Jim thanks Duane 895 00:39:01,120 --> 00:38:59,270 now always a pleasure take care for 896 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:01,130 tonight enjoy yes wait I know I'm 897 00:39:04,630 --> 00:39:02,810 enjoying it so ladies and gentlemen who 898 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:04,640 if you've just joined us welcome to NASA 899 00:39:10,690 --> 00:39:06,050 television here at NASA headquarters 900 00:39:13,780 --> 00:39:10,700 well we're taking you on a ride right of 901 00:39:17,980 --> 00:39:13,790 a lifetime and I'll social media 902 00:39:21,660 --> 00:39:17,990 audience twitter facebook youtube Jason 903 00:39:24,970 --> 00:39:21,670 Townson Twitter join the conversation 904 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:24,980 it's all around the world we're just 905 00:39:29,950 --> 00:39:27,890 beginning and now I think it's time to 906 00:39:31,870 --> 00:39:29,960 really go to the place where a lot of 907 00:39:33,550 --> 00:39:31,880 cool stuff is happening stuff is 908 00:39:36,730 --> 00:39:33,560 happening we're going to go to Mauna Kea 909 00:39:38,320 --> 00:39:36,740 Hawaii and our colleagues from NASA edge 910 00:39:41,350 --> 00:39:38,330 and they're going to be taking us