Where does this come from, and can I check it?

The 1769 expedition to Tahiti was astronomy first and discovery second. The figure is taken from Royal Society, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a history fact?

Yes. It sits on the History shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Captain Cook sailed to time the transit of Venus

The 1769 expedition to Tahiti was astronomy first and discovery second The Royal Society sent James Cook to Tahiti to record the transit of Venus across the Sun, a measurement that could help calculate the distance to the Sun. The observation itself was spoiled by a hazy sky. Cook then opened sealed orders and sailed south and west, charting New Zealand and the east coast of Australia. It sits in Mondo's history collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.

Where this comes from

Royal Society

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

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History trivia Space & Astronomy trivia

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Tags: cook, astronomy, tahiti

Captain Cook sailed to time the transit of Venus: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: The 1769 expedition to Tahiti was astronomy first and discovery second. The figure is taken from Royal Society, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a history fact?: Yes. It sits on the History shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.