It’s been more than six years since a solar eclipse was visible from the United States, but local astronomy fans will be treated to two in the span of seven months. An annular eclipse will occur on October 14, 2023, followed by a total eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Volunteers at BASF Planetarium have been gearing up for the upcoming Ring of Fire solar eclipse since early September, presenting a weekly fulldome planetarium show, All About Eclipses, and offering eclipse glasses for sale to visitors.
Local skywatchers are invited to observe the eclipse at the planetarium at the Ring of Fire Annular Solar Eclipse Event, planned from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 14. This event is FREE and open to the public, but an RSVP is requested. RSVP HERE!
Eclipse glasses will be for sale for 2 for $5 at the planetarium during the event. Please remember that it is never safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing.
During the annular eclipse, the moon will almost completely cover the sun, causing the “ring of fire” affect. This rare eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun. Viewers across the country will be able to see at least a partial eclipse, with those from Oregon to Texas experiencing the best view.
The eclipse will begin at 10:27 AM when the moon will first touch the sun’s edge. At 11:58 AM, viewers will experience the maximum eclipse when the moon will be closest to the center of the sun. The eclipse will conclude by 1:38 PM when the moon will leave the sun’s edge.
The planetarium will present the fulldome planetarium show All About Eclipses on the following dates:
- Tuesdays, October 3 & 10 at 7:00 PM
- Fridays, October 6 & 13 at 1:00 PM
- Saturday, October 7 at 2:30 PM
In addition to the solar eclipse event on October 14, visitors are invited to attend BASF Planetarium’s Fall Astronomy Night to experience the wonders of the night sky on Saturday, October 21 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Join us for demonstrations and night sky viewing through telescopes.
See the planetarium’s upcoming events and show schedules online for October, including weekly planetarium shows, Star & Space Story time and family-friendly Saturday afternoon shows!
