Scientists from the Nanjing-based prestigious Zijinshan (Purple Mountain) Observatory say the Mercury will begin to pass the sun at around 1:12 p.m. Wednesday Beijing Time and end at about 6:30 p.m. Beijing Time, the same day.

Many parts of China offer favorable conditions to observe the astronomical phenomenon.

If the weather is fine, astronomers will be able to watch the process with the help of a telescope or similar device.

Astronomical records show an average of 13 to 14 transits of Mercury every 100 years.

The last transit was in 1999 and the next will occur in 2006.

(Cri.com May 5, 2003)