What you need to Know as the incredibly rare celestial event which will see Mercury appear in front of our home star.
This rare astronomical event which occurs just 13 times each century will pass in front on the sun tomorrow Monday May 9, 2016. But it's not one of those event you rush out to view, because anyone who stares at the sun as the tiny black spot makes its journey past the sun risk permanent damage to their eyesight.
This relatively tiny planet will begin its journey past the sun at just after midday in most parts of the world.
It will then be visible as a tiny black spot as it spends 7.5 hours "transiting" our parent star.
According to NASA "Due to its diminutive size, viewing this event safely requires a telescope or high-powered binoculars fitted with solar filters made of specially-coated glass or Mylar."
The transit of Mercury will be observable across the whole of Western Europe, South America, the eastern part of North America, West Africa, and the western region of North Africa.
Mercury is the planet which is closest to the sun and is named after the famous "winged messenger" of Roman mythology.
See the transit path of the celestial event below:
- http://www.duketundesblog.com/2016/05/the-dangers-of-staring-at-sun-as.html#sthash.zCyD7Pwt.dpuf
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