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The most spectacular demonstration of the transit of Venus in the 18th century was produced by Benjamin Martin. We have recreated his mechanical version of the transit of 3 June 1769 in this scene. (See it working in Reconstruction).
. Martins theatrical demonstration was staged in London. It was set up in the lecture room of his instrument shop in Fleet Street. . The scene itself is to the north of the city, looking westwards from Islington towards Hampstead. When set in motion, a clockwork mechanism pulls the Sun down the slot towards the horizon. At the same time, a hidden gear train moves the black dot of Venus across the face of the Sun, mimicking the appearance of the real transit. |