A year in view: Your favorite 2012 pictures

Venus appears as a small black dot (upper left corner) against the massive surface of the sun on its orbit between Earth and the center of our solar system, June 5. The transit of Venus across the sun is one of the rarest celestial sights visible from Earth. The event marked the last time Venus will cross the sun (as seen from Earth) for 105 years.

Link to NBC News' photos from 2012: http://slideshow.nbcnews.com/slideshow/news/the-year-in-pictures-2012-50262396/