Watch a rare astronomical event next Monday at Monroe Lake when the planet Mercury transits, or passes in front of, the sun.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a telescope will be set up at Paynetown State Recreation Area, between the activity center and the beach. The telescope has a special solar filter that allows people to safely look at the sun and view Mercury as it transits.

Transits of Mercury during the month of May occur at intervals of either 13 or 33 years. The next one will happen in 2049.

The program will be canceled if the sky is too overcast.

You can check the program status on May 9 by calling the Paynetown Activity Center at (812) 837-9967.

Entrance to Paynetown costs $7 per in-state vehicle and $9 per out-of-state vehicle.

Paynetown SRA on Monroe Lake (stateparks.IN.gov/2954.htm) is at 4850 South State Road 446, Bloomington, 47401.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

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Media contact: Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist, Paynetown Activity Center at Monroe Lake, (812) 837-9967, jvance@dnr.IN.gov.