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General Introduction To the Year 2004

A rare Venus transit, maybe two bright comets in May, two total lunar eclipses, planets closenesses; great space events in January and July, here are the main events which 2004 brings to the amateur astronomy community. 2004 will see first Venus transit since 122 years. Unless being 122 years old, nobody alive today ever saw a Venus transit; last one occurred in 1882. It is mainly an Europe, central Asia, and eastern Africa event. Next one will take place in Pacific in 2012 and second next will be in 2117 only. Solar eclipses amateurs are less treated this year as there are only two partial solar eclipses (show is however interesting). On another hand, like in 2003, there will be two Moon total eclipses, one observable in the Middle East, one in South America, mid- and eastern USA, and western Europe. Month of May seems bound to see one major comet in northern hemisphere and two in southern. Venus will be a striking evening star all along from year's beginning to May. At last, Twin Rovers Spirit and Opportunity are arriving at Mars in January as Stardust will encounter comet Wild 2, and Cassini will reach Saturn in July