The Michigan Math and Science Scholars 2012 ASTRONOMY: Climbing the Distance Ladder: How Astronomers Survey the Universe EXERCISE: Transit of Venus  

On June 5th 2012, the planet passed directly across the face of the Sun as seen from Earth. Transits of Venus usually occurs as a sequece of two transits separated by about 8 years, with each pair of transits separated by over a 100 years. The next transit will be in 2117. Historically the transit of Venus was used to measure the distance of the Earth from the Sun (or Venus from the Sun). Read these three articles

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_of_Venus

2) http://transitofvenusncra.wordpress.com/

3) Kepler's 3rd law

Then work with a partner to figure out how you would measure the distance of the Sun from Earth.