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The 1769 and 2012 Transits of Venus, a Program in Two Parts
2012-06-05T18:00:00
The Rhode Island Historical Society presents The 1769 and 2012 Transits of Venus, a Program in Two Parts, on Sunday, June 3 and Tuesday, June 5.
Part 1: The Transit of Venus Walking Tour.
When: Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 2pm
Where: Depart from the John Brown House Museum, 52 Power Street, Providence
Part 2: A live telecast of the Transit of Venus.
When: Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 6pm
Where: The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium at Roger Williams Park, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence
Contact: Caitlin Murphy, 401-331-8575 x36 or cmurphy@rihs.org
Cost: $12 per person for both events, or $8 per person for one. Kids under 12 free. Reservations for walking tour required.
Have
you ever wondered where Planet and Transit Streets in Providence got
their names? On a clear June morning in 1769, a crowd gathered near a
tall wooden platform, curiously watching gentlemen like Joseph Brown,
his brother Moses, Stephen Hopkins and others using a telescope to
observe the Transit of Venus. The streets near their makeshift
observatory now bear the memory of their amazing experiment.
In
June of 2012, don't miss the truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
observe the Transit of Venus; it won't happen again until 2117! First on
Sunday, June 3rd, learn more about the 1769 Transit on a walking tour
of Providence's East Side, exploring the very site where the Transit was
observed almost 250 years ago. Then, on Tuesday, June 5th, join us at
the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Roger Williams Park to
view the Transit via a live telecast! Eclipse glasses will be provided.
For more information or to practice viewing the transit, please visit the Events page at http://www.rihs.org.
The
Rhode Island Historical Society is dedicated to collecting, preserving,
and sharing Rhode Island's history. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is the
fourth oldest state historical society in the United States. It is a
private organization, founded and supported by its membership.
The
RIHS holds the largest and most important historical collections
relating to Rhode Island. The Society owns and maintains the John Brown
House Museum, a National Historic Landmark built in 1788 and is one of
early American's grandest mansions and Rhode Island's most famous 18th
century home; the Aldrich House, also a National Historic Landmark,
built in 1822; and the Library of Rhode Island History. The organization
also maintains the Museum of Work and Culture, a regional history
museum devoted to the history of northern Rhode Island.
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