VIEWING SITES & TIPS

VIEWING SITES & TIPS

Here are the local events that will help you prepare for and view the June 5, 2012, Transit of Venus, a sight that won’t be repeated until 2117:

Prepare for the transit by attending a free, one-hour, full-dome Youngstown State University planetarium show at 8 p.m. May 25 or 26 or June 1 or 2. First-come, first-served. No reservations will be taken. For safety reasons, there is no entry or re-entry after the show starts because the planetarium, which features steps and tiered seating, will be darkened.

Safely view the transit free of charge through filtered telescopes with the YSU astronomy faculty and members of the Mahoning Valley Astronomical Society from 6 p.m. until sundown June 5 at the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm in Canfield near the entrance from the parking lot to the bicycle trail.

Safely view the transit free of charge with the passage of Venus across the face of the sun projected from a telescope onto a screen from 6 p.m. until sundown June 5 outside the Farrell, Pa., High School planetarium, 1700 Roemer Blvd.

Phone apps are available that show what to expect, with ingress & egress time-simulation for recording the event.

Source: YSU and Farrell High School planetariums