Watch out for this event! This is a great chance for those who have solar telescope or solar filtered telescope who wish to take a memorial photo or observe visually. If you miss this, you are going to wait for another 10 years, i.e., 9 May 2016. Most Americans, Asians (except Indians), Aussies and those who live in the visible area have the chance to enjoy this transit. It starts at 3:12 am GMT+8 on 9 November 2006 and lasts for 5 hours.
You must protect your eyes with solar filter. If you have a telescope, make sure that it has a proper and safe solar filter (I’m going to get Baader Astrosolar Film for my 8″ LX90). Don’t look at the Sun directly, it will severely damage your eyes. For those who don’t have any of the equipments or not lucky enough to be in the visible area, you may visit SOHO on 9 November 2006 for the real time movies.
To know the exact time of the transit happens in your area, please visit NASA – Transit of Mercury 2006.
Mercury transits can occur only in May or November, when the planet crosses the ecliptic plane. And they happen rarely – 13 or 14 times per century.
Recommended Equipments
- Coronado Personal Solar Telescope
- Solar film filtered telescope (I’m getting a Baader)
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