Venus transit draws crowds at Griffith Observatory

Crowds of people gathered Tuesday afternoon at Griffith Observatory to view the rare Transit of Venus.

Among them were were Simi Valley resident Tom Baker, 54, and his son, Thomas Baker, 7. They had been there since 10 a.m.

Baker said that he took his son out of school because of what he viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"It's a perfect day," he said.

Viewers across the world took part in the  nearly 400-year-old astronomical obsession — tracking a familiar neighbor, Venus, as its orbit carries it directly between Earth and the sun.

This rare event takes place only once every century or so, usually in pairs spaced eight years apart. The next one won't happen until Dec. 11, 2117.

Keep reading to see reader photos and Tweets. Able to photograph the transit? Tweet it to us at @LANow and tag it with #LAVenus. You can upload photos to our website.

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--Melissa Leu at Griffith Observatory

Video: Transit of Venus scenes from Griffith Observatory and Caltech. Credit: Melissa Leu and Eryn Brown/Los Angeles Times