Episode 2 of 5
Observation of the Transit of Venus
- When
- 3 June 1769
- Where
- Tahiti observation site
The expedition observed the 3 June 1769 transit of Venus from Tahiti, the voyage's principal scientific aim.
The combined Royal Navy and Royal Society expedition's stated aim was to observe the 1769 transit of Venus from Tahiti to enable measurement of the distance from the Earth to the Sun. The transit occurred on 3 June 1769 while Endeavour lay at Tahiti; the observation formed the core of the mission's scientific purpose alongside the search for Terra Australis Incognita.
Sources
- First voyage of James Cook Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-17
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