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James Cook was hired by the British Royal Geographical Society to observe the transit of Venus across the sun from the vantage point of Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean. The transit of Venus occurs when the planet Venus passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, and its unlit side can be seen as a small black circle moving across the face of the Sun. Transits of Venus occur in pairs, eight years apart, approximately once every 120 years. Cook's ship, the 'Endeavour', departed England, on 25 August 1768 for this scientific mission.

After this, whilst still on this mission, Cook had orders to head south and west and secretly search for the unknown Great Southern Continent, or Terra Australis Incognitabefore other countries, especially France, reached it first. His mission and goal was to make extensive notes on the flora and fauna of the land, and determine whether or not it would be suitable for colonisation. If so, he was to claim it in the name of England.

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14y ago

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