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Get a glimpse of next year’s skies with the Yearbook of Astronomy 2004, edited by astronomer Patrick Moore (Pan Macmillan, £14.99). The rare transit of Venus across the face of the sun takes place on 8 June. If the skies are clear, Londoners will have a great view of the complete event. Skywatchers are looking forward to this: the last one was in 1882.

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