National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC
On June 8, 2004, an extremely rare astronomical event occurred: the planet Venus passed between the sun and earth, the first 'transit of Venus' since 1882, which helped 18th- and 19th-century astronomers calculate the distance from the earth to the sun. Through books, manuscripts, and period scientific instruments, this exhibition examines the scientific and nationalist debates of the day and explains the event's significance today.
No photography permitted
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