Photo: Dr. Vesna Milosevic-Zdjelar, Physics professor, UWinnipeg
WINNIPEG, MB – Look up. Look way up. We are about to witness an event that will not happen again until 2117, more than 100 years from now.
The planet Venus will cross the Sun’s disk and the public is invited to witness this phenomenon – the Transit of Venus – at The University of Winnipeg. UWinnipeg’s Physics Department and Let’s Talk Science have teamed up with Theatre by the River, turning this transit into a major event on Tuesday, June 5th and Wednesday June 6th.
Attend a lecture about Transit of Venus with webcam hook-up to Hawaii, take part in an observation, and watch an award-winning play by Winnipeg author Maureen Hunter.
NOTE: In Winnipeg, the Transit will ONLY be visible on June 5th, from 5:00 pm until sunset (full transit lasts about 6 hours)
The importance of this astronomical event which, happens every 120 years two times, 8 years apart, is that it was the main method of determining precisely the distances of Sun, Earth and Venus. It is a brilliant exercise in geometry used for centuries to reveal the geometrical structure of our Solar system.
It last occurred in 2004, and now 2012. The next time it will happen will be 2117, more than 100 years from now.
PROGRAM:
6:00 pm – June 5 ONLY. Free and open to the public. Observing the Transit of Venus outside.
Meet on Portage Commons, the front lawn of main campus outside Wesley Hall at 515 Portage Avenue.
*NOTE (warning): Direct viewing of the Sun without proper glasses can severely damage eyes. Proper glasses will be distributed for safe viewing of the event.
7:00 pm – June 5 and June 6. Free and open to the public. Room 4M47, 4th floor Manitoba Hall at UWinnipeg, 515 Portage Ave.
Lecture by Vesna Milosevic-Zdjelar, Physics professor, about the importance of the Transit of Venus. Includes hook-up to a webcam from the Mauna Loa, Hawaii observatory, where the Transit will be covered in real time fully from the start to the end.
8:00-10:00 pm – June 5 and June 6. Ticket required. Room 4M47, floor Manitoba Hall at UWinnipeg, 515 Portage Ave.
Theatre by the River performs a reading of the play “Transit of Venus” by Winnipeg author Maureen Hunter. The play centers on Guillaume Le Gentil, an astronomer in the 1700s who followed his passion to chart the Transit of Venus and answer one of astronomy’s biggest questions – how far is the Earth from the Sun? Caught in Le Gentil’s wake are his young fiancé, mother, former lover and dedicated assistant. In a world full of dreams, destiny, hope and passion, can Le Gentil succeed in his quest to solve the mysteries in the stars without losing those he loves?
Directed by: Mel Marginet
Featuring: Darcy Fahr, Carolyn Gray, Megan Herkert, Muriel Hogue & Derek Leenhouts
Tickets: $5.00
Reservations suggested at:
theatrebytheriver@gmail.com or 204-943-9573. Tickets available at door.
PHYSICS CONTACT:
Vesna Milosevic-Zdjelar, Physics Department
University of Winnipeg
p: (204)-786-9756
e: v.milosevic@uwinnipeg.ca
MEDIA CONTACT
Diane Poulin, Communications Officer, The University of Winnipeg
P: 204.988.7135, E: d.poulin@uwinnipeg.ca
