Queen’s University expert Nathalie Ouellette is available to talk about the Transit of Venus – when Venus passes directly in front of the Sun – on June 5. It will be visible all across Canada.

The last time this happened was 2004 and the next one takes place in 2117.

“Venus will look like a small dot in front of the Sun. You can’t look up and see this with the naked eye. People can use solar filter telescopes, disposable ‘eclipse glasses’ or a rear projection screen technique (e.g. camera obscura). There are also a number of live webcast that will be available online from around the world, in case the weather doesn't cooperate,” says Ms. Ouellette, coordinator of the Queen’s Observatory and a student in the department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy.

Please note Ms Ouellette is not available after 6 pm on June 5.

To arrange an interview, please contact communication officers Michael Onesi (office: 613.533.6000 ext. 77513, michael.onesi@queensu.ca) or Anne Craig (office: 613-533-2877, Anne.Craig@queensu.ca) at Queen’s University News and Media Services Department in Kingston, Ont., Canada.

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Attention broadcasters: Queen’s has facilities to provide broadcast quality audio and video feeds. For television interviews, we can provide a live, real-time double ender from Kingston via fibre optic cable. Please call for details.