By Hannah Guanti
April 8 is the last chance for Virginians to see a solar eclipse for possibly the next twenty-years. Groups across the commonwealth are hosting viewing parties, including on campus!
While the college will not have a full view of the eclipse, but around 2 p.m. spectators can view a partial eclipse.
Officials from Natural Bridge State Park, about an hour from campus, report almost 90 percent visibility.
State parks across Virginia are hosting watch parties, educational programs, tutorials to build your own glasses, and selling their own glasses to view the event as well. These glasses are essential when viewing the eclipse, and are required to protect your eye health when looking at the event. You should never look directly at the sun, but especially not during the eclipse.
An astrology class on campus will be hosting our very own eclipse viewing event open to the college community. The event is held by visiting assistant professor, Dr. Truong Le and his students from INQ-250, Astronomy Controversies. It will begin on the Back Quad at 2 p.m. on April 8.
The event will have glasses on a first come first serve basis but attendees are encouraged to share amongst each other. The INQ-250 students will also be utilizing telescopes to monitor solar flares and others can take a look!
The eclipse is expected to last from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
While there are approximately two to five solar eclipses a year, it is not often that they are visible from the commonwealth or the college. It is estimated the next visible eclipse in Virginia will be in 2044.
Visit a state park, attend Dr. Le’s viewing on the back quad, or make your own D.I.Y. glasses and view outside a dorm. However you choose to view the eclipse, you won’t want to miss this event.
