Mercury will travel between the sun and the earth today for the first time in ten years, allowing astronomers to see the tiny planet pass across the sun's surface.

The transit will last from 12.12pm to 7.42pm, and will not happen again until 2019.

Mercury - the smallest planet in the solar system - passes between earth and the sun roughly every four months, but its orbit is tilted.

This means everything only lines up every few years, with the planet's orbital path usually higher or lower than the sun from our point of view.

While many astronomers will take the opportunity to watch the rare event, there are a few precautions to bear in mind.

Mercury is too small to be seen with the naked eye and looking at the sun directly, or worse through telescopes or binoculars, is dangerous and can cause blindness.

For safe ways to view the transit, visit the Royal Astronomical Society website.

South East Kent Astronomical Society will be watching the transit from midday to 6.30pm.

After the transit the society will be open the observatory to observe the Moon with the telescope until 10pm.

For more details visit the society website.