Eclipse Day is upon us and Miramar College wanted to remind everyone that Physical Sciences will be hosting a viewing party! It's scheduled to happen from 10 am - 12:30 pm, reaching maximum (~50% coverage) at around 11:11 am. The weather for today is looking great!
We will have our set up all around Compass Point, which includes telescopes, interactive astronomy demonstrations, and a live stream coverage from a location where there is totality. The first 50 attendees will also be able to grab a free pair of eclipse glasses! If you're not within the first 50, no worries, we'll have some for loaners!
This event is open to the entire Miramar community so please come by!
Tips for Safe Viewing:
Our Health services folks would like to help potential eclipse viewers plan ahead to safely view the upcoming eclipse.
SAFETY FIRST: Eye protection is absolutely necessary as a protection for direct viewing during solar eclipse. “Eclipse” glasses must meet the International Safety and Testing Standard and known as ISO. See the following NBC article about locating people of like minded eclipse interests and locations for possible ISO solar eclipse gazing shields, how to make your own safe way to experience the eclipse, and phone technology that maybe helpful For more information on safety during an eclipse, visit the NASA website.
SAFETY FIRST AT MIRAMAR: Professor Jae Calanog in a previous email, has shared that the Physical Science Department will be hosting a campus wide Solar Eclipse Viewing Party in Compass Point. They have special safety solar filtered telescopes set up for everyone to see the reflection which is absolutely the safest way to participate. Additionally, the Science department procured a few eclipse glasses 😎 and will present the campus with additional astronomy hands on playful demos.. This is an open event, and everyone is encouraged to join on Monday April 8th from 10 am to 12:30pm to view and share with our physical science department experts right here on Miramar’s compass point. For accessibility accommodations are happily met for this event please contact professor Jae Calanog jcalanog@sdccd.edu by Thursday April 4th if possible, prior to the event.
OTHER RESOURCES AND FUN IDEAS and TIPS FROM A 2024 NBC LOCAL NEWS CAST:
🌒 San Diego Public Libraries
Each of the 37 San Diego Public Library locations have received a limited supply of solar eclipse-viewing glasses to be distributed to the public, a library spokesperson confirmed.
Guests do not need a library card to obtain the glasses, but they are in very short supply -- and some branches may even be sold out already. Guests will be limited to two pairs of glasses per household.
Several branches are also hosting their own free events for leading up to or during the total eclipse.
- At the Balboa Library on April 3, guests can create their own eclipse viewers out of a cereal box for the event starting at 3:30 p.m.
- The Pacific Beach/Taylor Library will host their own viewing party on the Cass Street Plaza. Thre will be activities and viewers to share.
- Let your little ones learn about the eclipse at a special storytime at the Carmel Mountain Ranch branch libary on April 3.
- For a full list of events, click here.
If you can't get your hands on a free pair, here are some alternative options:
Build your own solar viewer
If you can't get your hands on safety glasses, create your own pinhole projector, which has a small hole opening to project the sun onto a nearby surface. Without looking at the sun, you'll be able to view the eclipse shadow as a projection. You can even use a strainer or your hands. Learn how here.
Purchase solar eclipse glasses
As a last resort, you could purchase solar eclipse glasses but make sure they are ISO-compliant. The American Astronomical Society, a NASA partner, has a list of authorized safe solar filter glasses and viewers. For a list of suppliers, click here.
There are even ISO-compliant filters for smartphones, according to the AAS, and solar eclipse glasses may also be sold at some national retailers, like Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart.
Eye safety- build your own protection https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/projection
Miramar Student Health hopes you are able to enjoy time with others and participate in a safe fun eclipse.
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