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A tiny solar eclipse is approaching

Mercury will pass in front of the Sun. Time is 11 November from 13:35. Place is on the roof of Moesgaard Museum.

Info about event

Time

Monday 11 November 2019,  at 13:00 - 17:00
[Translate to English:] Merkurpassagen 9. maj 2016. Foto: Rosborg Gymnasium
[Translate to English:] Merkurpassagen 9. maj 2016. Merkur er halvt inde på solskiven til venstre. Resten er solpletter. Foto: Rosborg Gymnasium

You will bring warm clothes, good boots and possibly a blanket.

The astronomers from Stellar Astrophysics Centre will bring solar telescopes.

And it's free to participate

From 13:35 and until sunset the small planet Mercury will transit the Solar disk. Not exactly a real solar eclipse, so we call it a transit instead.

Weather permitting you will be able to witness a small very black dot moving slowly across the Sun while it is slowly setting behind the tree tops in South-West.

Mercury transits are quite rare. On the average they happen 12 times every century, and with Danish weather in mind and because it has to happen during daytime here it is something worth seeing. Last time was 9th of May 2016 and the next time will be 13th of November 2032 from 07:41 to 12:07.

Mercury transit 2016 viewed through an H-alpha filter. Photo: Herbert Bubert.

Planetary transits have a special meaning to the astronomers from Aarhus. This is excactly how they hunt exoplanets orbiting other stars at Stellar Astrophysics Centre. This Monday afternoon some of our researchers will attend and aid in finding the small black dot.

You will probably not be able to see the small dot with the naked eye, and you should never attempt it if you do not have the special equipment made for solar observations. You risk unrepairable damage to your eyes - you retina might melt!

 

Photo: Moesgaard Museum.

We will be in place from 13:00 if it is cloud free. In overcast we reserve the right to cancel the event, but you will still be able to enjoy the formidable view. The museum is closed on Mondays.