Montgomery College to Host Viewings of Rare Venus Transit Celestial Event at Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Rockville Campuses

Montgomery College, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, 7600 Takoma Ave, Takoma Park, MD | Get Directions »
FREE

On Tuesday, June 5, 2012, the planet Venus will be crossing the face of the sun – and won’t do so again for over 100 years – so the astronomers and their Montgomery College students invite you to come and experience firsthand what is truly an historic celestial event.  

From approximately 5 p.m. to sunset on June 5, the Montgomery College community and the public is encouraged to join the College’s astrophysicists at two venues, one on the Rockville Campus beginning at 5:30 p.m. and another viewing area at the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus beginning at 5 p.m. Dr. Carrie Fitzgerald and student volunteers will host the Rockville Campus viewing in Parking Lot 13 at the corner of Mannakee Street and Rte. 355. At the Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, Dr. Harold Williams and his students welcome you to the top of the parking garage on Fenton and King Streets.

The first contact of Venus will occur a little after 6 p.m. The transit of the planet occurs when Venus passes directly between Earth and the sun. Viewers will see Venus as a small dot gliding slowly across our nearest star. Historically, viewed by luminaries such as Galileo Galilei, Captain James Cook and even Benjamin Franklin, this rare alignment is how we measured the size of our solar system. 

The events are free and no registration is required. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to see this unique and quite literally, once-in-a-lifetime event. 

Venus Transit Event Rockville Campus
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 
5:30 p.m. to sunset 
Parking Lot 13 (We’ll view the transit in the Campus Center cafeteria if cloudy conditions prevail)

Venus Transit Event Takoma Park/Silver Campus
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 
5 p.m. to sunset 
Parking garage roof at Fenton and King Street (We’ll view the transit from the planetarium if cloudy conditions prevail)

For more information, please contact Professor Carrie Fitzgerald at the Rockville Campus at 240-567-5415 or e-mail carrie.fitzgerald@montgomerycollege.edu or Professor Harold Williams at 240-567-1463 or e-mail at harold.williams@montgomerycollege.edu.