The Vancouver Sidewalk Astronomers will offer a peek at a rare planetary event Monday morning. Mercury will pass in front of the sun, something that happens about 13 times a century.
The Sidewalk Astronomers will provide a special eye-friendly viewpoint from 8 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, 221 N.E. 104th Ave., just off Mill Plain Boulevard near Interstate 205.
There will be one telescope — and possibly more — outfitted with a filter that prevents eye damage at the entrance to the grocery section, said Stan Seeberg, a member of the group.
The event, called a transit of Mercury, last happened in 2006, according to nasa.gov. The solar system’s smallest planet will appear as a small black dot as it crosses the edge of the sun.