MTSU Department of Physics and Astronomy Professor Eric Klumpe will lead a special Transit of Venus Star Party on Tuesday, June 5, from 5 until 8 p.m. at the observatory next to Old Main Circle.

Transits occur when a planet crosses between Earth and the sun. Only Mercury and Venus, which are closer to the sun than Earth, can experience this alignment.

In this transit, Venus will look like a black dot going across the face of the sun for about a six-hour period. The Transit of Venus will not occur again until 2117.

Klumpe, Associate Professor Chuck Higgins and several MTSU Astronomy Club students will set up telescopes for viewing and will be offering safe viewing options, discussing the transit and answering questions from the public.

Department officials are urging viewers to use properly approved eye protection, representational viewing processes or live streaming video feeds on their computers to watch the transit.  People should not look directly at the sun to prevent serious vision damage.

Viewers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to the free MTSU event.