Venus is the small dark disc crossing the sun. Transits of Venus are very rare events, this was the first transit of Venus since 1882. The next one occurs on 6th June 2012.
8th June 2004 from Crete. Taken through a 420mm Telephoto Lens on Kodak Elite Chrome 100. 1/125th of a second exposure. Solar Filter used.
Mercury is the small dark dot crossing the sun towards the top of the image (the other spots are sunspots). Transits of Mercury are much more frequent that those of Venus. However, as the sun is frequently below the horizon from Ireland, this was the first one visible from here in nearly thirty years. The next one (that is visible from Ireland) occurs on 9th May 2016.
70mm refractor (Pronto) operating at x4 its focal length giving 1920mm. 7th May 2003 at 07.55 UT. Fujichrome 100 slide film. Solar filter used. From Dundrum, Dublin.