Cyprus-Forum.com

[AlexanderKiti]

COSMIC LIGHT REACHES CYPRUS 2016
KITION PLANETARIUM & OBSERVATORY
9 MAY TRANSIT OF MERCURY 2016 IN CYPRUS

“TRANSIT OF MERCURY”
TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF MERCURY
PROGRAM EVERY HOUR at 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00.

During the whole year the Kition Planetarium & Observatory conducts the program "Cosmic Light Reaches Cyprus 2016". And this outstanding rare event is one of the main and most impressive astronomical phenomena, which can be observed from our Island of Love and widely celebrated in Cyprus during this program. With the help of a powerful professional Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope we will observe how a small black disc of Mercury slowly moves on the background of the Sun with beautiful sunspots.
Book your own time and enjoy the observations.


Join Our Spacewalk!
INFO & BOOKING: TEL. +357 99991111
Address: 9 AMMOCHOSTOU, KITI, 7550, LARNACA

[Sotos]

Considering the distance of Mercury and its size, is the sunlight it blocks during its transit measurable on earth? Does it get a tiny little bit darker... or it makes no difference whatsoever even when you measure with precision instruments?

[AlexanderKiti]

Yes, you are right. In astronomy this type of phenomena is named occultations. It is one of the most productive methods in discovering exoplanets.

As for the Earth observers a small cloud, covering the Sun, will produce larger effect. The noticeble darkness is observed during lunar eclipses, when the phase is about 70%!

You are welcome to the Planetarium and we will continue this interesting talk.