How to watch the transit of Venus

Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland:

From 3 to 10 p.m., solar telescopes will be available for public viewing as well as a NASA broadcast of the transit. Astronomers and volunteers will be on hand to explain the transit.

Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley:

From 2:30 to 8:30 p.m., solar telescopes will be in place on the main plaza, while inside a planetarium show called “The Transit of Venus” will be offered. There will be activities developed by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and astronomers will be available to answer questions.

NASA Ames Research Center’s Exploration Center, Mountain View:

From 2 to 8 p.m., the transit will be broadcast from NASA telescopes on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and local astronomers will set up solar telescopes for public use. Kepler mission scientists will describe their work discovering “exoplanets.”

Exploratorium, San Francisco:

The scientists sent to the Mauna Loa Observatory, more than 11,000 feet up on the Hawaiian volcano, will send back a live webcast of the transit. Listen to experts give commentaries on the celestial event from 3 to 10 p.m. at exploratorium.edu/ venus.

Astronomical Association of Northern California:

A full list of Bay Area locations where Venus transit activities are planned can be found at links.sfgate.com/ZLKT.