Starting at 6:04 p.m. ET this Tuesday, June 5th, the planet Venus will pass in front of the sun, making it visible to us on Earth. Astronomers call this event the transit of Venus, and it's only happened seven times since 1631 (the last transit was in 2004). Tuesday's transit will be the eighth, and also the last time it's going to happen this century, so if you're interested in astronomy, you won't want to miss it.

Gatherings are planned across Canada to view the phenomenon in action. Here's a list of a few of the meet-ups that are taking place. Some include talks either before or after the event, and a few provide safety eyewear (click the links to learn more), but whatever you do, don't stare at the sun!

Fredericton Area, NB: Hanwell Observatory

Moncton, NB: RASC New Brunswick Centre

Saint John, NB: Irving Nature Park

St. John's, NL: Signal Hill National Historic Site

Mississauga, ON: RASC Mississauga Centre, William G. Davis Building

Ottawa, ON: Canadian Science and Technology Museum

Toronto, ON: University of Toronto - Varsity Stadium

Port Dalhousie, Lake Ontario, ON: the Niagara Centre of the Royal Astrological Society

Sarnia, ON: The Royal Astrological Society Centre Sarnia Centre

Thunder Bay, ON: James St. Playfield

Winnipeg, MB: University of Manitoba, Ewen Observatory, University College

Calgary, AB: Rothney Astrophycial Observatory

Edmonton, AB: TELUS World of Science

Saskatoon, SK: University of Saskatchewan Campus Observatory

Vancouver, BC: Vanier Park, behind the HR MacMillan Space Centre

Vancouver, BC: Simon Fraser University Main Campus in the Academic Quadrangle

Victoria and Vancouver Island, BC: Cattle Point on the Oak Bay waterfront; Atop Mount Tolmie in Saanich; The Royal BC Museum's plaza in Victoria's Inner Harbour; Adjacent to the Metchosin

Yellowknife Region, NWT: Various Sites (Click the Link for Details)

And here's a video that explains what the transit is all about, from Science at NASA:

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