Mercury in Transit

Amateur astronomers set up about three dozen telescopes on the lawn of the newly renovated Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, one of many facilities that held special viewing parties. The observatory recently reopened after being closed for five years during its $93 million restoration.

This year's transit was visible in large parts of North and South America, Australia and Asia, but not in Europe, Africa, the West Asia, where it was night-time. The phenomenon was visible from parts of northeastern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.