THE PLANET of Love will be crossing the sun for the first time in more than a century - and this time Worcester star-gazers will be able to see the phenomenon themselves.

Venus' "transit" across the disk of the Sun - which last happened in 1882 - will take place on Tuesday, June 8.

Astronomers in Worcester say the news is particularly exciting because there is only one more transit of this kind to take place this century - in 2012 - when just the last hour of it will be visible from the UK.

During the planet and star cross-over next week, there will be plenty of chances for everyone to get a glimpse as it lasts more than six hours.

Astronomer Chris Livingstone, a member of the Worcester Astronomical Society (WAS), says he has been eagerly awaiting the moment since he became interested in stars and planetary movements four decades ago.

"Basically, what you will be able to see is a tiny black dot which will be the planet Venus going between us and the sun," he said.

"It will be an incredibly interesting spectacle."

He said the black dot would be approximately a 30th of the Sun's diameter because, at 7,000 miles wide, Venus is vastly smaller than the Sun, which measures around 864,000 miles wide.

He emphasised that Worcestershire residents should not attempt to witness the event with the naked eye, telescope, camera or other optical device. Doing so would seriously damage eyesight and may lead to permanent blindness.

Special "filter protection" glasses can be purchased from Mr Livingstone's astronomy store in Charles Street, Worcester, for £2 a pair.

Alternatively, an observation site will be set up by WAS at BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester's car park, in Hylton Road, Worcester, from 8am until the end of the transit at 12.25pm. The transit actually starts at 6.20am.

"We will show the transit in progress via web cameras attached to our telescopes with their solar filters, displaying the event live on computer screens for easy viewing," he explained.

But if the weather is overcast or wet, then the astronomer will be left sorely disappointed and the society would be unable to stage a display of the event, he said

This is really special for me I just hope it's going to be a clear sky on the day.

"It needs to be clear enough for the sun to be able to cast a shadow on the Earth,he added.