Viewing Venus in the City of Angels
Skywatchers in California have headed to the hills above Los Angeles to watch the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun.
The Griffith observatory which overlooks LA held a special event during the six-and-a-half-hour transit.
The very rare astronomical phenomenon, which will not be witnessed again until 2117, began at just after 3pm Pacific time (23:00 BST) and ended as the sun went down over the ocean.
The observatory has featured in many Hollywood films over the decades. Visitors were able to look for Venus - which appeared as a tiny black disc against our sun - using special protective equipment.
Produced for the BBC by Irina Khokhlova.
06 Jun 2012
- From the section US & Canada