COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Stargazers and astronomy buffs are invited to the University of Missouri's campus observatory on Tuesday to watch a rare planetary passage.
The Laws Observatory on the Columbia campus is hosting a public viewing of the planet Venus' passage directly between the sun and Earth. The planet can be seen as a black disk moving across the face of sun - an astronomical event that won't occur for another 105 years.
The observatory will provide telescopes and binoculars fitted with protective filters to prevent eye damage. The viewing begins at 5 p.m. at the top of the Physics Building and continues until sunset.
The director of the university's astronomy program will discuss the event's scientific implications at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free.