TOV

 

THE TRANSIT OF VENUS at SUNY New Paltz

Presented by SUNY New Paltz and the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association

*Weather update*: We are now expecting inclement weather for the transit. The program will still take place with the talk and live video feed. If the clouds are not too thick it may be possible to observe the Sun from indoor locations, even with light rain.

BASIC INFORMATION

On Tuesday June 5 Venus will pass directly between the Earth and Sun, and will appear as a small dot in front of the Sun. This will not occur again until 2117!

Our program will begin with a talk by Dr. Amy Forestell about the transit. We will then have solar telescopes available to view the transit, as well as a live video feed of the transit. The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

In New Paltz Venus will start to cross the Sun at 6:03pm and will finish crossing at 12:51am. The Sun will set behind the Shawangunk ridge at about 8:05pm, so we will no longer be able to watch the transit after that time. (The transit times vary slightly depending on where on Earth you are located. Use this link to determine the transit times for any location.) A live internet video feed of the event from Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii will be available at this website for the full duration of the transit. We will display this video on a large screen.

After dark telescopes will be available to view Saturn before you leave.

DO NOT try to observe this event on your own unless you have special solar viewing equipment. Looking directly at the Sun with your eyes or a regular telescope can result in serious eye injury and blindness.

 

DETAILS

Schedule:

5-5:30pm: Talk by Dr. Amy Forestell

5:30-8pm: Viewing with solar telescopes

6-9pm: Live internet streaming of the transit from Mauna Kea Observatory

 

Location:

SUNY New Paltz Campus Lecture Center. The talk and video will take place inside in rooms 102 and 104. Telescope viewing will take place in the concourse outside of Lecture Center, between Lecture Center, Coykendall Science Building, and Sojourner Truth Library.

Driving Directions to the New Paltz campus are available here. A campus map is available here. Please note that the East Entrance to campus is permanently closed. On-campus parking is free after 6:30pm. Visitor permits are available for $2 at the park-and-pay machines located at Hawk Drive at the West entrance, Lot 28 across from the Hopfer Admissions & Alumni Center, and Lot 5 adjacent to Parker Theater.

 

MORE INFORMATION

A publicity flyer about the event is available here [pdf] (black and white) and here [pdf] (color).

An informational letter about the event for school groups, community groups, and media outlets is available here [doc].

More information about the Transit of Venus is available at these websites: http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/transitofvenus/ http://www.transitofvenus.org/


For more information about the New Paltz event contact Amy Forestell, Professor of Physics and Astronomy, at forestea@newpaltz.edu or 845-257-3750.