How to Watch the Rare Transit of Mercury Across the Sun on Monday

[HuckleB]

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2016/05/05/guide_to_the_mercury_transit_on_may_9_2016.html

"On Monday, a very cool astronomical event will occur: The smallest planet, Mercury, will appear to move across the face of the Sun. This relatively rare event, called a transit, happens on average only about 13 times per century.

Mercury is small, but big enough that with the right equipment it will appear as an inky black dot silhouetted against the Sun, moving slowly across its face. In the article below I’ll detail the important times of the transit, how to watch it, why this event is rare, and just why it’s so interesting.

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Looking at the Sun without proper equipment is very dangerous. Like, “blinding yourself badly and perhaps permanently” level dangerous. Never look through a camera, binoculars, a telescope, or any kind of optical device at the Sun unless it has been set up to do so safely by someone who knows what they’re doing.*

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But don’t despair! Lots of observatories are doing live webcasts of the transit:

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Check out the list of webcasts at the link!

[Dr. Strange]

1. Best way: