(DSBpix) Picture of the Observatory from my last visit |
Free Open
House From 6:15-8:15 p.m.to View
this Rare Event
CHESTER,
Pa.—The Widener
University Observatory invites the public to attend a free open house on
Tuesday, June 5 from 6:15 – 8:15 p.m. to view the planet Venus as it transits
across the face of the sun. The transit of Venus – when the planet passes
directly between the earth and the sun – is a rare event that occurs in pairs
that are eight years apart, followed alternately by spans of 121 ½ years and105
½ years. The last transit of Venus occurred June 8, 2004. The upcoming transit
of Venus on June 5 will be the last time in the 21st century such an
event will occur.
Visitors may
come at any time during the two-hour open house period to view the transit
using the Widener Observatory’s main 16-inch telescope equipped with a special
solar filter to see Venus as a black dot silhouetted against the face of the
sun.
Admission is
free, and all are welcome. In the event of cloudy skies or rain, there
will be live streaming in the observatory classroom. For directions to Widener
University, go to http://www.widener.edu/stargazing,
and click on the “Directions to Observatory” link. Those without Internet
access should call 610-499-4003
for more information.
The Widener
University Observatory is located on the 5th floor of Kirkbride Hall
on 17th and Walnut streets in Chester, Pa.
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