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Look Up! Spot A Rare Astronomical Event From Michigan On Monday

BLOOMFIELD HILLS (WWJ) - A rare astronomical event is expected to happen Monday — but you'll need a telescope for this one.

Mike Narlock, head astronomer at the Cranbrook Institute of Science, says metro Detroiters who are properly equipped should be able to see a Transit of Mercury, which is when the planet passes directly in front of the sun.

"Transits of Mercury happen only about three or so times every century. The last one we had was about a decade ago," Narlock said. "This one is going to be particularly interesting because, number one, we'll be able to see it — or should be able to see it, if the weather cooperates — here in Michigan, and it lasts a little a little bit over seven hours; and, with the proper equipment, take a look at it."

The Cranbrook planetarium will open for special hours, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the occasion.

"We're going to have our observatory open and we have several research-grad telescopes in there that will help you see it safely," Narlock told WWJ's Jackie Paige. "But we're also going to have telescopes out on our lawn, so you'll be able to see it that way as well. We're going to try to make as big of a deal of this as possible."

Narlock said the transit should be visible throughout most of the world, including the across the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America, Africa, and most of Asia.

The bad news: It's dangerous to look directly at the sun with the naked eye. To avoid serious eye damage, experts recommend using a good telescope with a solar filter to see Mercury silhouetted against the sun. [More from NASA]

Special admission rates for May 9 will be $6.50 for adults, and only $5.50 for kids age 2-12 and Seniors 65 and up. As always, children under 2 and members get in free.

For more information on viewing at Cranbrook, visit this link.

If you are in the Detroit area, Wayne State University's Department of Physics and Astronomy will hold a free, public viewing of Mercury's transit across the sun from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Monday.  In case of cloudy weather, a live feed of the transit will be broadcast in Wayne State's Planetarium.

For more information on viewing at WSU, visit this link. 

 

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