The L.C. Bates Museum will be open to the public for the transit of Mercury, from 7 a.m. to noon Monday, May 9.

The astronomical wonder only occurs every 13 or 33 years, the event takes place when the planet Mercury comes between the sun and the earth, making Mercury visible as a small black dot traveling across the surface of the sun. From North America, the whole process of the transit will be visible.

Sun-filtering telescopes, cameras and special glasses with be available for safe viewing. This is the first time since 2006 that the transit of Mercury will be visible and it won’t be visible again until 2019.

For more information about the Mercury viewing event or other programs, contact the museum at Good Will-Hinckley at 238-4250 or lcbates@gwh.org. The museum is located on U.S. Route 201 in Hinckley, on the campus of Good Will-Hinckley.


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