Brian Jackson

Associate Professor of Physics at Boise State University

  • About
  • Research
    • CV
    • Joining the Boise State Planetary Science Research Group
    • Ultra-short-period planet database
    • The Short Period Planets Group — S(u)PerP(i)G
    • Google Scholar Page
    • Code
  • Teaching
  • Press
  • Extracurricular Activities
    • Field Trips
  • Public Outreach
    • Boise State’s Astronomical Observatory

In the Shadow of the Winged Messenger

Posted by admin on May 3, 2016
Posted in: Public Outreach. Tagged: mercury transit.
A snapshot of the November 2006 transit of Mercury. The rocky planet appears as a clean-edged disc in the lower hemisphere of the sun. Clusters of sunspots can also be seen near the right and left edges of the sun. From http://www.space.com/32758-mercury-transit-sun-2016-rare-event-may9.html.

A snapshot of the November 2006 transit of Mercury. The rocky planet appears as a clean-edged disc in the lower hemisphere of the sun. Clusters of sunspots can also be seen near the right and left edges of the sun.
From http://www.space.com/32758-mercury-transit-sun-2016-rare-event-may9.html.

An event that only occurs 13 times a century, the planet Mercury will transit the Sun in the morning of May 9, meaning the planet will pass between the Earth and Sun and cast a shadow we can see, as in the photo at left.

The Physics Department at Boise State University will host a viewing event on campus in the plaza next to the physics building (Multi-Purpose Classroom Building) from 9am till 1pm. Paid parking is available in the Brady Parking Garage across the street from the event.

We will have telescopes with Sun-safe filters and eclipse shades to share so the public can watch this rare celestial occurrence.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the transit will already have begun by the time the Sun rises, but it will last until about 1pm.

So bring the whole family for this rare celestial event — the next one won’t happen until 2019.

UPDATE: We will also project a live feed from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory in the lobby of the Physics Building.

Posts navigation

← Video Demonstrations from Mechanics
The Sun: From Space to My Front Yard →
  • Twitter: decaelus

    Brian Jackson
    • @idahoans Black Americans were not guaranteed citizenship from the nation's founding in 1776 until 1868, almost 100… https://t.co/5WA125Dj2U about 15 hours ago in reply to idahoans
    • @theidaho97 What's our play, @theidaho97? What can we do next? about 16 hours ago in reply to theidaho97
    • @ironywithab The rule in our house is just don’t say those words around grandma. about 23 hours ago in reply to ironywithab
    @decaelus
  • Recent Posts

    • Boise State Geosciences Seminar – 2021 Mar 29
    • Third Thursday Virtual Planetarium Show – 2021 Mar 18
    • First Friday Astronomy – Seeing the Dark Side of the Universe through Cosmic Lenses – 2021 Apr 2
    • Third Thursday Planetarium Show – 2021 Feb 18
    • First Friday Astronomy – Psyche: Journey to a Metallic World – 2021 Mar 5
  • Archives

    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Parament by Automattic.