Mercury Passes
Across the Face of the Sun.
It is a rare event that will
only happen 14 times this century.
As seen from Earth,
the planet Mercury will pass
in front of the face of the Sun.
This happens when Mercury,
the Earth and the Sun are lined
up precisely in three dimensions.
Mercury's orbit around the
Sun takes 88 days. The next such
transit will not occur until 2032.
People living in South America,
parts of North America and West Africa,
Central America, the Caribbean and small portion
of Greenland will be able to view the entire event.
The smallest and innermost planet
in the solar system will appear as a
black dot, silhouetted against the Sun.
Astronomers recommend
following safety advice, as
looking directly into the Sun can
cause permanent eyesight damage
