A view of the Sun as the planet Venus passes in between the Sun and the Earth in Beijing, China, June 5,  2012. The next time Venus can be observed transiting the Sun will be in 2117.

In this handout image provided by NASA, the SDO satellite captures the first image of the Transit of Venus across the face of the sun on June 5, 2012 from space. The last transit was in 2004 and the next pair of events will not happen again until the year 2117 and 2125. [Photo/CFP]

The planet Venus begins its passage before the sun, a very rarely seen event, on June 5, 2012 near Orange, California. The transit of Venus involves the planet Venus crossing in front of the sun. The last time it was seen in California was 1882 and the next pair of events will not happen again until the year 2117 and 2125. [Photo/CFP]

A view of Venus moving across the face of the sun on over the sky of Seoul, South Korea, 06 June 2012. The next time Venus can be observed transiting the sun will be in 2117. [Photo/CFP]

A view of Venus moving across the face of the sun on over the sky of Seoul, South Korea, 06 June 2012. The next time Venus can be observed transiting the sun will be in 2117. [Photo/CFP]

A view of the Sun as the planet Venus passes in between the Sun and the Earth in New York, New York, USA, 05 June 2012. The next time Venus can be observed transiting the Sun will be in 2117. [Photo/CFP]

A view of the Sun as the planet Venus passes in between the Sun and the Earth in New York, New York, USA, 05 June 2012. The next time Venus can be observed transiting the Sun will be in 2117. [Photo/CFP]