Eastern Florida State College Planetarium To Offer Free Solar Eclipse Viewing Event
By Space Coast Daily // July 31, 2017
Maximum eclipse locally occurs at 2:55 p.m.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – What’s being touted as “The Great American Eclipse” takes place on August 21 and EFSC’s Planetarium & Observatory will open for special afternoon hours that day, featuring safe viewing opportunities.
The solar eclipse on Monday, August 21 will begin at approximately 1:21 p.m. and continue until 4:17 p.m. Maximum eclipse in Brevard County occurs at 2:55 p.m. when 88 percent of the sun will be obscured by the moon.
The Observatory at the Eastern Florida State College Planetarium, located on the western side of the Cocoa Campus, will be open to the public for the full duration of the event.
Doors open at 1 p.m. and attendance is free. Solar eclipse glasses are a must and can be purchased on site for $1 each.
Staff will be on hand to assist guests on how to safely view the sun either through the telescope, by direct viewing with the appropriate filters or using indirect projection methods.
“This event is being touted as The Great American Eclipse because the entire lower 48 states are in line to see at least part of it,” said Mark Howard, Director of the EFSC Planetarium.
“However, the total phase of the eclipse will not be visible from Florida. It can only be experienced along an extremely narrow path running from Oregon to South Carolina.”
Though eclipses occur rather frequently they are usually in remote locations requiring great effort to reach.
This eclipse marks the first time since 1979 that observers anywhere on the United States mainland will get to witness at least a partial view of a total eclipse of the sun.
Many helpful websites sporting interactive maps and observing tips are available online to make a viewing experience successful and safe. The following two can be especially useful
• NASA’s Eclipse 101 Information Site
• Time and Date: Merritt Island Specific Information
Safety is always of utmost importance when observing the sun. Some simple rules for safe viewing are listed at NASA’s eclipse viewing site.
Click HERE for more information or call the EFSC Planetarium at 321-433-7373.
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