Mythology and Mathematics through Stargazing
Transits of Mercury have occurred in 1999, 2003, 2006, and 2016; the next transit of Mercury visible from Earth after the 2019 event will not be until 2032.
The Transit of Mercury is an astronomical phenomenon in which Mercury comes between Earth and the Sun and can be seen as a tiny black dot moving across the sun. Johannes Kepler predicted this event before it was observed visually. That observation was recorded in 1631. Today, we generally hear about astronomical events before they happen, often camping outside at night to see rare occurrences in the sky. How do astronomers predict events like the Transit of Mercury with such accuracy? In short, advanced mathematics. Astronomers draw from concepts of Physics and use Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Calculus to make measurements of distances between objects in the sky, and predictions of when they will appear in various ways from Earth.
You don’t need to know anything about mathematics to appreciate the beauty of the sky, however. For centuries, the sky remained a mystery to humans, and many myths emerged to explain the sun, moon, stars, and planets. Spark a sense of awe with these time-lapsed video shots by NASA from the 2016 event:
Mercury in Transit is the perfect event to engage with local resources and experts via community-based educational events …
