UCLA astronomers invite the public to join them at the head of Janss Steps on Tuesday, June 5, from 3:06 pm until sunset, to safely use their filter-equipped telescopes to watch Venus cross the face of the Sun. Library Special Collections will bring a rolling exhibit case to join part of the festivities (3:00-4:30pm) in order to show half a dozen reports from an earlier Transit of Venus ... the renowned 1769 event for which scientific teams were sent worldwide to make observations.  We will have a paper from Lt. (later Captain) James Cook’s voyage on the Endeavour to the south Pacific Ocean, Jean-Baptiste Chappe d’Auteroche’s posthumous report from Baja California, and James Ferguson’s 1769 astronomy textbook “for young gentlemen and ladies.” For more about the history of the Transit of Venus, visit NASA’s website for the 2012 event. Please be sure to read the advisory on the UCLA Planets website about viewing the Transit of Venus  phenomenon ONLY with proper protection! Russell Johnson History & Special Collections for the Sciences UCLA Library Special Collections