Don't Miss: Planet Mercury To Pass In Front of Sun

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WOODSTOCK, GA -- During the first half of Monday, May 9, residents in north Georgia will be able to watch a rare planetary event from the comforts of their lawns.

At around 7:13 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, the planet Mercury will pass in front of the sun, as seen from Earth, for the first time in 10 years, Cartersville-based Tellus Science Museum said.

Known as a “transit," the event will continue until 2:41 p.m. Monday. Mercury transits are more frequent than Venus transits since Mercury is closer to the sun, but they are still rare occurrences, Tellus states.

Typically 13 or 14 Mercury transits occur each century. Mercury transits can only happen in May or November because those are the only months of the year when the sun, Earth and Mercury are properly aligned for the transit. The next one will occur in 2019.

Tellus Science Museum will be observing this event all day. Museum guests are encouraged to visit the Tellus observatory for a real-time experience, weather permitting. Inside the museum, hourly commentary will be provided by Tellus Astronomer David Dundee and other Tellus Museum staff.

If you plan to watch on your own, great care should be taken when observing this event. Never look at the sun directly without proper eye protection. You can learn more about Mercury and the transit by visiting NASA's website.

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Screenshot showing how the sun, Mercury and Earth will be properly aligned for the transit. Credit: NASA's video entitled "What's up for May 2016"