[ProParents] FWD: transit of Venus

Ken Urban kurban at parkland.edu
Mon Jun 7 11:26:26 CDT 2004


A rare transit of Venus (last seen in 1882) will occur tomorrow morning
(June 8) at dawn.   The six hour event will be in-progress as the Sun
rises and we hope to see the last hour.   

The Staerkel Planetarium is running two special "Transit of Venus" shows
today (Monday) at 3pm and again at 7pm.   The light-hearted show
explains the historical significance of the transit, why this event is
so rare, and what we'll see Tuesday morning.   The cost to the public is
$3 per person (our kid's rate) but if any faculty or staff want to catch
this program, just show your ID (since our student cashiers won't know
you, most probably) and get in for half price ($1.50).  

Tuesday morning, members of the CU Astronomical Society, UI Astronomical
Society, and planetarium staff will be on the soccer fields east of
Parkland at dawn with telescopes equipped to look directly at the Sun.  
Anyone can stop by if they wish.   Both Channel 3 and Channel 15, plus
Mix 94.5 have said they're coming over.   If you watch on your own, make
sure you have appropriate eye protection - sunglasses are bad!    A #14
Welder's glass or mylar eclipse glasses are fine, plus you can project
an image of the sun on an index card using binoculars or a telescope.   

If you have questions, give a holler!

Dave Leake
Staerkel Planetarium
A division of the Natural Sciences Department



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Ken Urban
Assoc. Prof., Computer Science
Parkland College

Office: B129A
           (217)-353-2246
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