Rare Passage of Planet Mercury Across Sun Will Be Visible Monday

On Monday, Los Angeles residents will have their first chance since 1960 to see the innermost planet of the solar system silhouetted against the face of the sun, a rare event known as a transit of Mercury. The next one visible in Los Angeles will be Nov. 8, 2006.

From 1:11 to 2:20 p.m., Mercury will pass just inside the northern edge of the sun’s disk. Do not look directly at it, however. The transit should be observed by the same techniques used for viewing a solar eclipse. It can be viewed at the Griffith Observatory.

Compiled by Times medical writer Thomas H. Maugh II