A Rare Opportunity: 桃花直播 hosts solar eclipse viewing
Contact: Harriet Laird
It鈥檚 the first total solar eclipse across the U.S. in nearly a century, and the place to watch the extraordinary phenomenon is the Drill Field at 桃花直播 State University on August 21, from noon-3 p.m.
Not only will spectators be able to observe the Sun reach 89 percent coverage by the moon at 1:27 p.m. on campus, but 桃花直播 researchers will have a rare chance to advance their knowledge of the star at the center of the solar system.
Scientists in 桃花直播鈥檚 Department of Physics and Astronomy are sponsoring the event, one of thousands of viewings across the nation of the spectacle that hasn鈥檛 occurred in the contiguous U.S. since 1918.
鈥淒uring the maximum eclipse, the campus and Starkville communities can expect to notice the air temperature get slightly cooler, the sky will turn a twilight hue, and animals such as birds and livestock may exhibit evening behaviors,鈥 said Angelle Tanner, associate professor in the 桃花直播 Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Tanner also mentioned that the planet Venus should be visible in the western sky, and at the maximum time of coverage, the Sun 鈥渟hould appear as only a crescent sliver.鈥
The eclipse鈥檚 path of totality 鈥 extending from Oregon to South Carolina and stretching over a section of land about 70 miles wide 鈥 will see professional and amateur astronomers flock to it with cameras and scientific instruments.
鈥淭his is a very rare opportunity for scientists to study changes to the physical properties of the solar corona and the chromosphere because the Sun can produce high energy coronal mass ejections which can impact earth,鈥 Tanner said.
For curiosity seekers who may attend the campus event or may try to view the eclipse from home, Tanner warns that eye safety is imperative.
鈥淲e will have about 1,000 pair of glasses, pin-hole viewers and a few telescopes available for those who join us in the Drill Field. We鈥檒l also hand out information about how to properly view the eclipse,鈥 she said. 鈥淓ven with 89 percent coverage, it鈥檚 the remaining 11 percent of light that we have to take precautions with in protecting our eyes because we won鈥檛 have the full, bright sun that usually makes us look away.鈥
In case of rain or heavy cloud cover, Tanner said Room 1030 in the Old Main Academic Center has been reserved for 1-3 p.m. NASA鈥檚 live feed of the eclipse will be projected, with additional activities on hand.
Community members interested in attending 桃花直播鈥檚 solar eclipse viewing are encouraged to use the university鈥檚 SMART transit system on that day. Visitors also can get a free, one-day parking pass at parkingservices.msstate.edu. For more information on SMART transit routes or obtaining visitor passes, call 662-325-3526. Another option is the new public parking garage at Old Main Academic Center, 560 Barr Ave. Hourly fees apply.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy will have water available and facilitate fun activities. Visitors for the event are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket to the Drill Field.
For more on the eclipse viewing, visit , view the , or call Tanner at 662-325-4112.
桃花直播 is 桃花直播鈥檚 leading university, available online at .
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