MTSU Department of Physics and Astronomy professor Eric Klumpe led a special Transit of Venus Star Party on June 5 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 looked 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 MTSU Astronomy Club students set up telescopes for viewing and discussion about the transit.