Sun-Earth Day Presents: Eclipse, In a Different Light

HAVE A PARTY!

Eclipses throughout time have brought people together. For some, out of fear that the world was ending (ref: Mark Twain, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”). For some out of excitement that the cosmic engine was working and they were some of the privileged perhaps even the chosen few to view and celebrate the event with celestial reverence. For others, an eclipse is testimony to the incredible beauty that our universe has to offer us. Still others have congregated at mountain top observatories and in far way places to use the eclipse as a way to unlock the secrets of our physical world to understand the laws that create and maintain the universe.

We invite you to join with NASA and amateur astronomers all over the world in experiencing this wondrous event, unique in our solar system by holding an eclipse party! Eclipse parties are a fun way to share the excitement with schools, community groups and the general public. Not sure how to hold an eclipse party? We have some thoughts and guidelines that should help. After your party, why not send us some pictures and stories of the event and we’ll post them on our Eclipse Party web page. An eclipse party is also a big part of the NASA / Astronomical League Eclipse Observing Certificate Program. So, gather your solar filters, chips, and sodas and have a blast!

RELATED SITES

Solar Telescope Web Sites

• National Solar Observatory
• Ground Based Solar Observatories
• Astroweb: Solar Telescopes

Eclipse Party Resources

• Australia Telescope Outreach and Education: Tips for Holding a Viewing Night
• Everything2: Solar Eclipse