by Amy Notarius Rowan Public Library
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), an estimated 500 million people will be able to observe the solar eclipse occurring Monday, Aug. 21 in partial or total form: 391 million in the U.S., 35 million in Canada, and 119 million in Mexico (plus Central America and parts of South America and northwestern Europe).
For those who want to witness the eclipse firsthand, all branches of Rowan Public Library are hosting viewing parties beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 21. Headquarters (Salisbury), East Branch (Rockwell), and South Rowan Regional (China Grove) will distribute viewing glasses while supplies last. Prior to the eclipse viewing, each branch will also host a special storytime for children at 10:30 a.m.
If you’re staying home that day, check out these tips on using a shoebox and other common materials to create a pinhole viewer, another safe way to view the eclipse, at http://static.nsta.org/extras/solarscience/chapter3/3.10PinholeProjectionInABox.pdf.
You can learn all about eclipses before the actual event by visiting NASA’s Eclipse 101 resource at https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-101. This website has many suggestions for safe eclipse viewing, eclipse parties, activities, and experiments you can do.
Use the total solar eclipse interactive map to view the start, maximum, and end times for the eclipse in your area. Click on “how eclipses work” for video and diagrams that explain the positions of the sun, moon, and earth during different types of eclipses.
In addition, NASA will offer an eclipse live streaming video at https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive. Here, NASA will provide images captured before, during, and after the eclipse by spacecraft, NASA aircraft, high-altitude balloons, and the astronauts aboard the International Space Station – each offering a unique vantage point for the celestial event.
Throughout history total solar eclipses were regarded with fear and dread before science made it possible to predict their occurrence. You can view the Babylonian clay tablets that recorded instances of ancient eclipses by visiting the history of eclipses page at https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-history. You’ll also find a list of many of the important scientific discoveries that took place during solar eclipses, including the verification of the theory of General Relativity.
Are you planning on taking photos with your smartphone during the eclipse? Get some tips at this NASA site: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/smartphone-photography-eclipse. Advice includes using protective eyewear, taking practice shots of the moon before the eclipse, and taking a series of time-lapse photos of the scenery as the light dims during the eclipse. And maybe the most important tip of all—don’t forget to stop taking photos long enough to view the eclipse with your own eyes!
Explore the science, history, and wonder of eclipses with these great resources. Then, join us Aug. 21 at your nearest RPL location for eclipse storytimes and viewing parties.
For more information, visit http://www.RowanPublicLibrary.org or call 704-216-8228.
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