A Teachable Moment in the Sky: The Transit of Mercury
It only happens about 13 times a century and won’t happen again until 2032, so don’t miss the transit of Mercury on Monday, Nov. 11! A transit happens when a planet crosses in front of a star. From our perspective on Earth, we only ever see two planets transit the Sun: Mercury and Venus. This is because these are the only planets between us and the Sun. (Transits of Venus are especially rare. The next one won’t happen until 2117.) During the upcoming transit of Mercury, viewers around Earth will be able to see a tiny dark spot moving slowly across the disk of the Sun.
WARNING! Looking at the Sun directly or through a telescope without proper protection can lead to serious and permanent vision damage. Do not look directly at the Sun without a certified solar filter.
In the latest Teachable Moment from NASA/JPL Edu, education specialist Lyle Tavernier explains how transits have helped scientists of the past and present study space – and even hunt for potentially habitable worlds outside our solar system. Find out how to watch the transit on November 11, plus get resources to engage students in this rare celestial event.
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Related Lessons and Activities
Use these lessons and activities to engage students in the transit of Mercury and the hunt for planets beyond our solar system:
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