On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the planet Mercury will transit -pass over the face of – the sun for the first time since 2003, and East Tennessee State University’s Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geology will host a free ‘Mercury Transit Watch’ to mark the occasion.
This is a relatively rare occurrence, and Mercury will not do so again until 2016, according to ETSU astronomer Dr. Gary Henson.
The transit of Mercury will be visible from North America beginning at approximately 2:15 p.m., and will conclude after sunset. Henson says that because the planet’s apparent diameter is only 1/194th of the sun’s apparent diameter, it will appear as a small black dot – no larger than a small sunspot – on the disk of the sun.
Several telescopes equipped with solar filters for safe viewing will be available from 2:15-4:15 p.m. that afternoon at ETSU’s Harry D. Powell Observatory, which is located off College Heights and Narrow Lane, just south of the main ETSU campus.
A map with directions to the observatory is available at www.etsu.edu/physics/etsuobs/obsmap.htm.
The ‘Mercury Transit Watch ‘will be canceled in the event of poor weather. For more information or special assistance for those with disabilities, contact Henson at (423) 439-6906 orhensong@etsu.edu.

Author