On April 8th, 2024, a solar eclipse will pass over the northeastern United States. While no location in Massachusetts will experience totality, weather permitting, Martha's Vineyard should see over 90% coverage of the sun, much greater than the 65% obscuration during the 2017 partial solar eclipse. Locally the eclipse will begin at 2:16 pm, with greatest magnitude at 3:29 pm.
While it’s very tempting to look directly at the sun during an eclipse, this is not safe and can cause irreversible eye damage. Most libraries on Martha's Vineyard will be providing certified solar eclipse glasses leading up to the event or on the day of the eclipse. Eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses -- regular sunglasses are not safe to view an eclipse.
On Thursday March 28th at 7pm, library patrons are invited to attend a virtual program via Hingham Library with Dr. Tyler Nordgren, a professional astronomer and author of the book, “Sun Moon Earth: The History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets.”
Thursday April 4th from 3:30-5pm, Kids are invited to get ready for the eclipse by making an eclipse t-shirt. We'll also have a take-and-make craft and STEM handouts leading up to the event.
Monday, April 8th from 2-4 pm the library will host an eclipse viewing for the public, with eclipse viewing glasses and eclipse-themed snacks. We'll also be streaming the path of totality throughout the day on the library TV. Details and location TBA.
If you don't plan to attend the library's viewing event on the day of the eclipse, free eclipse glasses will be available for pickup while supplies last, beginning March 25th. One pair of glasses will be available per person, with a maximum of two pairs of glasses per family. Eclipse glasses have already been provided to the Tisbury School to be distrubuted to students.
Eclips glasses have been provided through a grant from the Space Science Institute's Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) program.
There are other safe methods of viewing a solar eclipse. For do-it-yourself options including making a pinhole projector and other quick and easy viewing techniques, visit:
American Astronomical Society: How to View Safely:
https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-
The Exploratorium: How To View a Solar Eclipse:
https://www.exploratorium.edu/
Guide to Building Solar Eclipse Viewers:
http://clearinghouse.
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