The Observer's Book of Astronomy

This is a 1964 book that I treasure, because it was instrumental in nurturing my love of science. I used to read it in bed with a torch! Last night (in the UK) the planet Venus passed across the face of the Sun, and the problem is in the word 'night' of course. It started just after 11.00 pm, but I was able to watch it live online. It lasted about 7 hours, but the British weather ensured it was not visible at sunrise. Transits of Venus are rare events and occur in pairs (2004 was the pair of this one), there will not be another one now for over a century! My 1964 astronomy book gave the date of the 2004 transit, and that seemed an age away when I was a boy!