Transit of Mercury Viewing

The planet Mercury will slowly move across (transit) the face of the Sun, appearing as a small dark dot, offering us a somewhat rare opportunity to view this historic event!

The College of San Mateo (CSM) and the San Mateo County Astronomical Society (SMCAS) will provide safe viewing of the Transit in two locations at CSM, both with beautiful views of the SF Bay.  Viewing locations are College Center (Bldg 10) Cafeteria Terrace, 2nd Floor, and Observatory Viewing Deck, 4th floor Building 36). We will have solar viewing telescopes available, and astronomers on hand to answer questions.

Free parking is available in Olympian Lot 12.  $2 parking in other lots.

From its first observation in 1631, transits of Mercury have had a significant role in history, from Captain Cook's voyages of discovery in the South Pacific in 1769, to helping prove Einstein's theory of gravitational warping of space in 1919.

Warning: It is unsafe to directly look at the sun. Do not attempt to view the transit by looking directly at the sun with the naked eye, normal sunglasses, binoculars or telescopes which do not have appropriate solar filters.