If you were unable to see the solar eclipse enjoyed in the southwestern U.S. last Sunday, don’t despair. The West Virginia University Department of Physics will open the WVU Planetarium and Observatory in Hodges Hall to the public on the evening of Tuesday, June 5, for the Transit of Venus.

This once in a lifetime view of Venus passing in front of the Sun will begin at approximately 6:04 p.m., and last until sunset, at 8:42 p.m. This event will not occur for another 105 years. For more information about the Transit of Venus visit http://www.transitofvenus.org.

The Tomchin Observatory – located on the fourth floor of Hodges Hall – is equipped with a solar filter. Several solar scopes will also be available to visitors in White Hall. Additional activities, including videos describing historic transits of the past and an iPad station for accessing current images of the sun from the STEREO and Solar Dynamics Observatory satellites will be made available to visitors in White Hall.

Guests are asked to enter White Hall from the Willey street side of the building. Upon entering, guests will be directed by department members and signage to the various activities in White Hall, as well as to the viewing in Hodges Hall.

This unique event is free and open to the public; no reservations are required. All scope views are dependent on sky clarity. If the sky is overcast, the event from the Web will be projected onto a screen in room G9 of White Hall.

For more information, contact John Hopkins, at 304-293-4961,
or jghopkins@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

ap/5/21/12

CONTACT: Rebecca Herod, Director of Marketing and Communication
304-293-7406, ext. 5251, Rebecca.Herod@mail.wvu.edu

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