A LITTLE black dot caused big excitement across Hampshire this morning.

Across the county, telescopes were turned to the skies for one of the rarest events in the solar system as the planet Venus passed in front of the Sun.

Astronomers from the University of Southampton set up two telescopes in the city centre today to give local people a chance to experience the transit first hand rather than on television.

Dozens of shoppers and office workers queued in the hot sunshine for a glimpse at the unusual phenomenon, which last took place in 1882.

Experts from the university's School of Physics and Astronomy also handed out

solar viewers to allow people to look at the event safely without damaging their eyes.

Meanwhile, a live Web-link at the city's WestQuay shopping centre enabled people to watch the transit via an Internet link to a professional telescope elsewhere in the world.

Other astronomers set up a live Web-link at Cantell School, Bassett, and explained the importance of the event to pupils.

Malcolm Coe, senior lecturer in astronomy at Southampton University, said: "In 1882, planetary transits were very important to astronomers because, at a time when there was little knowledge of the size of the solar system, they enabled accurate measurements of the distance of the Sun from Earth.

"Our knowledge of the solar system has increased substantially since then, but the transit is still a spectacular sight and a once in a lifetime event.

"What we hope to do is to help people find out more about what's happening and experience it first-hand."

Venus could be seen today as a black dot passing across the surface of the sun between 7am and 12.30pm. It was visible as a black spot, even without the use of a telescope.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE VENUS TRNSIT?

Housewife Anna Evans, 28, of Swaythling, Southampton, said: "It was definitely worth coming to see it. It was quite a lot smaller than I expected but still impressive."

Body Shop deputy manager Kate Tobin, 31, of Dibden Purlieu, said: "It is amazing to be able to see this in the middle of Southampton. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Andy Penn, 41, a contract engineer, of Romsey, said: "It was very good. I had heard about it on the news last night and this morning but didn't know much about it until then."

Maggie Fogg, 56, of Stoneham, Southampton, said: "It was impressive. It could have been a bit of dirt on the lens of the telescope but it was really clear through the viewer."