The Vanderbilt’s Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium will offer a special half-hour presentation on Monday, November 11, at 11:00 am, about the planet Mercury as it makes its transit across the sun. This is a free event, but registration is required. Please click the button below to register.
Click to Register
If you are interested in touring the Estate grounds and Museum after the lecture, you must purchase general admission at the admissions desk after the lecture. As a salute and a thank-you, the Vanderbilt will give free admission to the Museum and Planetarium that day to all veterans and active-duty military personnel, and their families. This offer is good for Saturday through Monday, November 9-11.
Amateur astronomer and space enthusiast Rob Unger, one of the Planetarium’s command-console operators, will give a talk followed by safe viewing of the Mercury event – weather permitting – with solar telescopes in the Vanderbilt Observatory.
Dave Bush, director of the Reichert Planetarium, said, “Planetarium staff will set up special solar-filtered telescopes so that all visitors can safely live view the transit of Mercury across the Sun, starting at 11:30 am right after the show, and continuing until 1:00 pm.
“Be sure not to miss this event. Mercury will not cross the face of the Sun again until the year 2032! Please arrive early to secure your seat for the presentation.”
Warning: Never look directly at the Sun without proper solar filters. Permanent damage and blindness will occur.
