November 11, observation of the transit of Mercury in the IFCA

This activity is part of the activities of the University of Cantabria Scientific Week.

We call "transit" of a planet to the apparent passage of it in front of the surface of the Sun. From Earth, we can observe the transit of those planets that are between the Sun and Earth and only when they are aligned with the Earth and with that star.

On November 11 the planet Mercury will be between the Earth and the Sun and we will be able to see how it passes in front of the solar disk. On the outside of the IFCA building a projection of the Sun will be made on a screen (you should never look at the Sun directly nor with optical instruments without adequate protection) and we will observe the "transit" as a small shadow that moves slowly in front of the solar disk. Solar telescopes will also be available so that the visitor can observe this transit with them.

In case the weather does not allow us to make the observation, we would broadcast images of the event obtained from the Astronomical Observatory of Cantabria or in other places.

There are 13 transits of Mercury per century and the next one will not occur until November 13, 2032.

For more information see here.