2019 Transit of Mercury
Date: November 11, 2019
Time: Morning and early afternoon
Location: Coast-to-coast
On November 11, 2019, Mercury will be passing between the Earth and the Sun. From our view here on Earth, that means we'll see a little black spot slowly crossing the disc of the Sun. However, because Mercury is so small, you won't be able to see it just with solar-filtered eclipse glasses.
You know how you're never supposed to look at the Sun because it'll blind you? That goes doubly for looking at the Sun through any magnifying device, like binoculars or a telescope. However, some binos and scopes have filters on the front that block out enough sunlight that you can safely look through them. If you're going to observe the transit, make sure that you are using solar-filtered binoculars or telescopes, not just any old telescope!
Because of the slight difference in the orbits of Mercury and the Earth, Mercury transits only happen about 13 times per century. The next one isn't until 2032, so you'll want to see this one! Find local RASC events below where RASC members will have solar-filtered telescopes set up so you can see the tiny dot of Mercury traversing the Sun.
Please note that many events below will be weather-dependent. Events may not be run if the weather is cloudy.
Download a handout on the transit here!
Transit of Mercury Event Listing
Calgary, AB
Calgary Centre
Location: 2 locations! Ralph Klein Park and Nose Hill Park
Time: 7:04 - 11:04am
Click here for more information.
Guelph, ON
Kitchener-Waterloo Centre
Location: 2 locations! Johnson Green at Guelph University and Centennial Arboretum Centre at the Guelph Arboretum
Time: 11am - 1pm
Kitchener, ON
Kitchener-Waterloo Centre
Location: Carl Zehr Square (Kitchener City Hall)
Time: 8am - 1pm
Observing will be hosted by Kitchener-Waterloo Centre member Jim Goetz.
London, ON
Location: Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory
Time: 7:30 am - 1:30 pm
More info can be found here:
As well as via our Facebook event:
Mississauga, ON
Mississauga Centre
Montreal, QC
Montreal Centre
Ottawa, ON
Ottawa Centre
Location: City Hall Plaza
Time: TBA
Check back soon for more information.
Regina, SK
Regina Centre
Location: Wascana Hill in Douglas Park
When: November 11, 2019 8:05 a.m. – 12:04 p.m.
More info can be found here.
Saskatoon, SK
Saskatoon Centre
Location: 2 locations! Riverlanding west of the Traffic Bridge, and University of Saskatchewan Observatory
Time: 9am - 12pm
Click here for more information.
St Catharine's, ON
Niagara Centre
St John's, NL
St John's Centre
Sunshine Coast, BC
Sunshine Coast Centre
Thunder Bay, ON
Thunder Bay Centre
Location: Terry Fox Monument
Time: Sunrise
This event will be very casual.
Waterloo, ON
Kitchener-Waterloo Centre
Location: Waterloo Public Square
Time: 10am - 1pm
Waterloo, ON
Kitchener-Waterloo Centre
Location: Gustov Bakos Observatory (University of Waterloo)
Time: TBD
Observation will be done with the Observatory's telescope.
