Shoot the Messenger
Event Date:
Monday, May 9, 2016
Event Time:
7:00am - 3:00pm
Event Webpage:
Event Description:
A Transit of Mercury Challenge
The Cincinnati Observatory is issuing a challenge to all students, adults, and mortals: Take a picture of the Transit of Mercury on May 9, 2016.
The planet Mercury will cross in front of the Sun from 7:12am-2:42pm EDT and we want you to see and document this rare and beautiful event in our challenge entitled, “SHOOT THE MESSENGER!”
We warn you, this challenge will not be easy. You’ll need to be safe. You’ll need to plan ahead. You’ll need equipment. You’ll need a camera. And the big warning – never look at the Sun unless you are 100% sure that you are using the proper protection. Don’t mess around with the Sun!
Okay, here’s what you have to do:
- Research details about the Transit of Mercury and safe solar viewing methods.
- Design and build your safe solar viewer
- Test it out ahead of time
- Take a picture of the Sun and see how it looks.
- On May 9 take a picture of the disc of the Sun with Mercury on it and "Shoot the Messenger!"
- Document it over the course of the day
- Process the pictures and post them on the Cincinnati Observatory's Facebook Page, Tweet them #ShootTheMessenger, or email them to Dean Regas at: dean@cincinnatiobservatory.org
Event Type:
Citizen Science
Educational
Open to the General Public?:
Yes
Topic:
Astronomy
Mission:
MESSENGER
Event Location:
Cincinnati Observatory
3489 Observatory Place
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208United States