On Monday, May 9, 2016, the transit of Mercury begins at 6:06 am and ends at 11:42 am, local time. However, viewing the transit without the proper equipment is very dangerous. Courtesy of CSM’s Astronomy Department and the San Mateo County Astronomical Society (SMCAS), solar telescopes will be set up at two on-campus locations for public viewing of the transit from 7-11:45 am. Both locations are listed below:
- College Center Building 10, Cafeteria Terrace (Second Floor)
- Science/Planetarium Building 36, Rooftop Observatory (Fourth Floor)
German astronomer Johannes Kepler had predicted the transit of Mercury (the passage of Mercury across the Sun as seen from Earth), which was subsequently observed by French astronomer Pierre Gassendi in 1631. Transits of Mercury are rare events, and won’t occur again until November 2019, therefore, all are encouraged to attend this event.
For more information, please visit collegeofsanmateo.edu/astronomy and smcasastro.com.
Free parking is available in Olympian Lot 12. Reference campus map for parking and directions: collegeofsanmateo.edu/map.
