News Article

View the Transit of Mercury Across the Sun at the FSW James & Barbara Moore Observatory

Oct 28, 2019

OCTOBER 28, 2019 – PUNTA GORDA, FLA – Skygazers can safely view the transit of Mercury across the sun from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, at the James & Barbara Moore Observatory located on the Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) Charlotte Campus, 26300 Airport Road, Punta Gorda. The event is free and open to the public.

“Mercury will appear as a very small, black dot moving across the sun,” said Tom Segur, observatory director. “This event only occurs about 13 times a century. The Nov. 11 event will be the longest of this century, lasting five hours, 30 minutes. The next event will happen in 2032.”

Solar filters are required to safely view this event. The observatory will have four telescopes and four pairs of binoculars with proper solar filters available for safe viewing.

The James & Barbara Moore Observatory also holds public viewing sessions on the fourth Friday of each month, September through May, weather permitting. Observation sessions typically begin about 30-45 minutes after dark.

For more information about this event or for a full schedule of observatory events, call (941) 637-5652 or visit https://www.fsw.edu/charlotte/observatory.

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Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and most affordable institution of higher education. Annually serving nearly 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees and professional certifications, several with 100 percent licensure pass and job placements rates. Study and travel abroad opportunities are available for students through FSW’s Center for International Education. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW debuted its first Women’s Volleyball program in Fall 2019. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

Last Updated: October 28, 2019