So, 8 planets or 9?

I think officially/scientifically/astronomically there are only 8 planets these days. Today when my friend was telling her kids about the 8 planets my brain took a while to process eight . . . eight . . . something sounds wrong about that . . . eight . . . oh yeah, when I was in school, there were nine.

Poor Pluto.

Anyway.

Today Venus flew in front of the sun. So if you looked at the sun, you could see a little black dot where Venus was, if you didn't burn your eyes out first. Luckily the Science Center and their friends brought telescopes to Forest Park and set them up with special filters for all interested parties who wanted to see the planet without going blind.

Here we are looking through the telescopes. Baby C's eyes are so advanced he didn't need a telescope.

And here is the planet Venus in front of the sun. (Little black dot on the bottom of the sun light.) Seen through a sun spotter (like a folded-up telescope, says the man. Involved a lot of little mirrors). Cool, huh?