Mercury will cross the sun next week and the Moorpark College Observatory is hosting an event in honor of this spectacle.

The last time this phenomenon occurred was in 2006, so students should seize the opportunity to watch the skies at the observatory on Monday, May 9.

“It is a rare astronomical event,” said Dr. Erik Reese, a physics professor at Moorpark College. “It happens on average once a decade.”

Eclipse glasses will be provided so that attendees can watch the event without damaging their eyes. The observatory will also have telescopes equipped with solar filters for visitors to use.

The event will start at 8 a.m. and end at 11 a.m. after Mercury has completed its transit across the sun.

“We always like to see unusual things like when the planets line up,” said James Artero, an organizer of the event.