Astronomy event 'of a lifetime' visible in June†Indiana Department of Natural Resources
You may want to mark your calendars for this “event†or share this with your organization to design a program around it.
June 5 will give you the opportunity to host a unique astronomy program that cannot be offered again until after the bicentennial of Indiana State Parks! Venus will pass in front of the sun (an event called a transit). It begins around 6:10 P.M. EDT and will continue past sunset.
The best way to view it is to use a Mylar solar filter. They are not very expensive and can fit over a spotting scope. If you have solar eclipse view glasses, Venus will look like a large round sunspot. Projecting onto a piece of white paper is another option. If you bring a regular telescope, cover the finder scope so no one looks through it or burns themselves.
If you have a partnership with an area astronomy club, make arrangements now. This is an event anyone can watch safely if they have the proper equipment. If you have a great place on your property to watch a sunset (like our deck beside the Interpretive Center), it can be a marketing opportunity to ‘Watch the Sunset of a Lifetime!’
The almost full moon will rise shortly after the sun sets, so folks can turn their telescopes in the opposite direction. It will give a great opportunity to discuss how the full moon looks so big next to the horizon, but smaller when it is higher in the sky. (Nothing for scale…)
If you have any questions, please let me know. No one alive today to witness this event will be around to see the next Venus transit in 2117.
Regards,
Alan Goldstein, Certified Interpretive Planner
Interpretive Naturalist
Falls of the Ohio State Park
201 West Riverside Drive
Clarksville, IN 47129-3148
(812) 280-9970 ext. 403
agoldstein@dnr.in.govwww.fallsoftheohio.orgwww.facebook.com/fallsoftheohio________________________________________________________________________
Event 'of a life time' visible in June(Mark your calendar and tell your friends!)
Alan Goldstein,
agoldstein@dnr.in.govInterpretive Naturalist, Falls of the Ohio State Park
June 5 will give you the opportunity to host a unique astronomy program that cannot
be offered again until after the bicentennial of Indiana State Parks! Venus will
pass in front of the sun (an event called a transit). It begins around 6:10 P.M. EDT
and will continue past sunset.
The best way to view it is to use a Mylar solar filter. They are not very expensive
and can fit over a spotting scope. If you have solar eclipse view glasses, Venus will
look like a large round sunspot. Projecting onto a piece of white paper is another
option. If you bring a regular telescope, cover the finder scope so no one looks
through it or burns themselves.
If you have a partnership with an area astronomy club, make arrangements now.
This is an event anyone can watch safely if they have the proper equipment. If you
have a great place on your property to watch a sunset (like our deck beside the Interpretive
Center), it can be a marketing opportunity to ‘Watch the Sunset of a Lifetime!’
The almost full moon will rise shortly after the sun sets, so folks can turn their telescopes
in the opposite direction. It will give a great opportunity to discuss how the
full moon looks so big next to the horizon, but smaller when it is higher in the sky.
(Nothing for scale…)
If you have any questions, please let me know. No one alive today to witness this
event will be around to see the next Venus transit in 2117.
Some good links
http://www.transitofvenus.org/june2012http://www.transitofvenus.org/education/video-new-media/325-trailerhttp://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2012/about/event_locations.php
