The Earth didn't move. The sky didn't turn black. Many people continued their day-to-day activities completely oblivious.

But, for astronomers, the transit of Venus yesterday was something very special indeed.

The rare phenomenon of our sister planet passing directly between the Earth and the sun saw stargazers across Sussex training their specially-filtered telescopes towards the heavens.

No one alive has ever seen the spectacle. Just five transits have ever been observed and none since 1882.

The chance to watch history in progress drew dozens of people, including Queen guitarist Brian May, to Sir Patrick Moore's home in Selsey.

Reflectors, refractors, binoculars, web cams and a variety of special filters were trained on the sun at 6.18am as the transit began.

Television crews from The Sky At Night, the television show fronted by Sir Patrick for 47 years, filmed the presenter as he watched the event.

Sir Patrick held a pair of specially blacked-out glasses over his face to protect his eyes from the sun.

As the planet inched slowly forward, Sir Patrick, as full of enthusiasm as ever at the age of 81, called out: "There it is - something nobody has seen before.

"Conditions could not be better. The sun is in a beautifully clear sky.

"This really is a one-off and I'm so glad the conditions are perfect."

At least 15 telescopes in Sir Patrick's back garden were pointing at the sun, most of them crowded around Sir Patrick.

Many were projecting images on to white paper so they could be viewed safely. Some had standard filters, while others were fitted with Hydrogen Alpha filters which are specially configured for looking at the sun.

Brian had both a Hydrogen Alpha telescope, plus a contraption featuring a home-made telescope fitted with two bent clothes hangers.

He said: "My dad and I made it in 1960-something. It's my childhood telescope but it's surprisingly good after all these years.

"It gives a very sharp image. It has good optics and shows you don't need anything sophisticated.

"I have a pretty decent telescope at home. All my life I promised myself I'd get one when I had the money but when I had it, I didn't have the time.

"I did a physics degree and post-graduate astronomy for four years. But I then got the call of music so strongly I had to go with it, which was a blessing for astronomy."

Brian said he had been looking forward to the Venus transit but added: "The real treat is to spend time with Patrick. It's such a special moment because no living person has ever seen it, so to share it with him is great."

Brian and Sir Patrick are working on a book together to bring astronomy to the masses.

Publisher Robin Rees, who was also at the gathering, said: "It's a complete history of the universe and will do what A Brief History Of Time was trying to do. Combining Patrick's writing skills and Brian's communication skills will help get astronomy to a bigger market."

The title for the book, which will be published by Carlton, remains top secret.

But Sir Patrick said: "Brian's a highly-qualified astronomer and we hope to finish the book late this year and have it out early next year."

As the guitarist walked past, Sir Patrick asked him to pose for a photo in front of his weather vane - itself featuring a man looking through a telescope.

Conversation, meanwhile, had moved to discussing an unusual finding during the transit.

As Venus, appearing as a tiny dot just a thirtieth of the diameter of the sun, passed within the star's perimeter there was a slight distortion called the "black drop".

Every observer, back to Jeremiah Horrocks who first watched a transit in Much Hoole, Lancashire, in 1639, had noticed the effect.

Scientists had anticipated it again but, while it was clearly apparent through the older telescopes, it was not visible through more sophisticated equipment. This led to much head-scratching.

Chris Lintott, of University College London, a co-presenter on The Sky At Night, said: "The programme is 47 years old but this is its first and only transit of Venus. We thought we would know exactly what we were going to see. But some people said this 'black drop' effect did not come up on their equipment.

"People thought it was an optical illusion but it should have occurred through all the cameras so we'll have to go back to the drawing board."

Other keen observers included Dave Tyler, 62, who made the journey from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

He said: "I had been really looking forward to it. We had our fingers crossed for the weather and were lucky to get it. I went to Teignmouth in Devon to watch the eclipse a few years ago but it was clouded over.

"In a way this is better."

Dave took three telescopes along but was viewing the transit through a 66-inch refractor, with a special filter he designed himself to deflect the harmful rays.

Transits take place in pairs - so it will be only eight years until the phenomenon reoccurs. However, that will not be visible from the UK. The next chance to glimpse the spectacle here will be in 243 years.

Selsey resident Grahame Swain, 64, said: "Patrick often invites local people and close friends over. Often there are even more people but it started quite early today.

"Patrick used to teach at my school, Homewood House, near Tunbridge Wells. He taught French, history - it was a very generalist school and there were only 60 boys there at the time.

"He was very interested in astronomy back then. I think it is something he picked up from his mother. She was a modern lady for her time.

"We have remained in touch since but particularly since he moved to Selsey, where my parents owned a house 100 yards away from him."

Chas Parker, from Hooe, near Battle and an old friend of Sir Patrick, arrived with his son Jonathan, 15.

They missed the initial stages of the transit but planned to remain until 12.23pm to watch Venus leave the sun's path.

Chas, who used to work at the Royal Observatory at Herstmonceux, said: "It's an impressive sight and something nobody alive has seen.

"We are hanging around for the egress and joining the celebration afterwards. It's a social event as well as an astronomical one."