SMSU Planetarium

New Planetarium Show: When Venus Transits The Sun
Date: T June 5th, 5p.m.-8p.m.
Admission: $5

Come join us on June 5th as we witness a spectacular sky phenomenon known as a "Transit of Venus." You will get a chance to view it through one of SMSU's telescopes and witness venus crossing in front of the Sun. There will also be a planetarium show included with the live observation session detailing the rich history of this rare phenomenon and how it was used to measure the size of the solar system!

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Page Created and Maintained by Ken Murphy
Space Calendar for 2012

January 1: Grail Space Probes Arrive at the Moon
January 4: Earth at perihelion—closest point to the Sun

February 9: Venus & Uranus very close together—need telescope to see Uranus
February 20: 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s first orbital flight
February 29: Leap Day

March 3: Mars at opposition (seen in sky all night)
March 11: Spring ahead! Daylight Saving Time begins
March 14-15: Venus & Jupiter conjunction—evening sky
March 20: Spring begins—officially at 12:14am CDT

April 15: Saturn at opposition—up all night

May 20: Annular Solar Eclipse visible in SW United States, small partial eclipse will be visible in Minnesota just before sunset starting at 7:30 p.m.

June 4: Partial Lunar Eclipse—better visibility in western America, very limited visibility in Marshall starting around 5:15 a.m. Just as Moon is setting.
June 5: Venus Transit—last one for 105 years! 5:14 p.m. To 11:15 p.m. in Marshall
June 20: Summer starts at the solstice, 6:09pm CDT
June 29: Dwarf planet Pluto at opposition

July 4: Earth at aphelion—farthest point from the Sun
July 9: Venus & bright star Aldebaran—morning sky
July 27: Dawn spacecraft leaves asteroid Vesta for dwarf planet Ceres where it will arrive in 2015

August 6: Landing! Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity Rover)
August 12: Perseid Meteor Shower peaks
August 23: Neptune at opposition

September 22: Fall arrives—Autumnal Equinox at 9:49am CDT
September 28: Uranus at opposition

October 3: Venus & bright star Regulus—morning sky
October 4: 55th anniversary of Sputnik launch and orbit

November 4: Fall back! Daylight Saving Time Ends
November 13: Total Solar Eclipse—N. Australia, South Pacific
November 27: Venus & Saturn together in morning sky

December 2: Jupiter at opposition
December 13: Geminid Meteor Shower peaks
December 21: Winter commences at solstice, 5:12am CST
http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/