A rare event will transpire in the sky on Tuesday, June 5 and
astronomers at the University of Missouri–St. Louis are inviting
the public to watch. The planet Venus will cross the face of the
sun. It’s an occurrence that won’t repeat for more than a
century – not until 2117. “We will have a telescope set up with
a solar filter on it for safe viewing,” said Erika Gibb, an
associate professor of physics and astronomy at UMSL. The
viewing will start at 5 p.m. at the Richard D. Schwartz
Observatory on the UMSL campus, weather permitting. Gibb will be
on hand to answer any Venus transit or general astronomy
questions. People watching the event will observe Venus as a
black disk moving across the sun. The viewing event is free and
open to the public, and children are welcome. The Richard D.
Schwartz Observatory is located at Florissant Road and Rosedale
Drive on UMSL’s campus. For directions and information about the
observatory click here.