Attached are the Mathcad 14-15 worksheet and input data file used to generate the "Transit of Venus 2012 June 5-6" animation (video) that I posted on February 2, 2012. This is an astronomically rigorous calculation based upon accurate geocentric ephemerides of the Sun and Venus.
If you have not heard about this astronomical event elsewhere, surely you will, for two reasons! Because (1) this is the last transit of the Sun by Venus that anyone now living is likely to ever see. The next pair of Venus transits will occur on 2117 December 11 and on 2125 December 8. And (2) it will be easy to observe (weather permitting) as well as rare.
All you will need is an inexpensive pair of "eclipse glasses," or you can construct a "pinhole camera." But telescopic observation is also possible, with a full-aperture solar filter.
So check out the worksheet and video and be watching your local news media as we approach the month of June 2012.
CAUTION: Never look directly at the disk of the Sun without approved eclipse glasses. Never point a telescope at the Sun without a full-aperture solar filter properly affixed over the objective lens. Further, the finder scope's objective lens should be blocked with a piece of aluminum foil unless it, too, has an approved solar filter properly affixed.
Any questions? First PlanetPTC member to respond gets the points.
Roger Mansfield
P.S. When you view the video, do as PlanetPTC member Kevin Bradberry suggests and click the box in the lower right of the video viewer to obtain the more legible full-screen animation.