A satellite image captures the approach of Venus, black disk at upper left, before it transits across the face of the sun.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SDO/NASA / Getty Images

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A satellite shows Venus before it transits across the face of the sun.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SDO/NASA / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62401

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A satellite captures an image of Venus beginning its transit across the face of the sun, an event that will not repeat until 2117.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SDO/NASA / Getty Images

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62402

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Venus, upper left, is shown in this satellite image transiting across the face of the sun.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: SDO/NASA / Getty Images

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Mt. Wilson, Calif. — Astronomy enthusiasts gather at the Mt. Wilson Observatory to watch a screen showing Venus' transit of the sun.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62404

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Mt. Wilson, Calif. — Dan Koehler of Milwaukee watches the transit of Venus through a telescope fitted with a solar filter at Mt. Wilson Observatory.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62405

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In this image taken at Mt. Wilson Observatory through a telescope equipped with a hydrogen alpha solar filter, Venus passes across the face of the sun, the planet's last transit this century.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62406

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This false-color image, taken at Mt. Wilson Observatory with a telescope equipped with a hydrogen alpha solar filter, shows Venus transiting across the face of the sun.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62407

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Pasadena, Calif. — A crowd gathers at Caltech in Pasadena to view the transit of Venus.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62412

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Pasadena, Calif. — At Caltech in Pasadena, Selene Lockerbie, left, of Pasadena holds her daughter Evelyn, 3, while she looks through a solar-filtered telescope to view the transit of Venus.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62413

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Pasadena, Calif. — The transit of Venus is photogramed through a piece of mylar at Caltech in Pasadena.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=62414

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