Emporia State University is offering the opportunity to view a total solar eclipse via live stream when the Earth’s moon moves in front of the sun on Monday, April 8. Viewers can watch by visiting emporia.link/eclipse. The live stream begins at 12:40 p.m. CDT with an introductory video, followed by the eclipse, which will last until 3:25 p.m. CDT. Totality, or the mid-eclipse point, will occur at 2:08 p.m. CDT.
The event is made possible by ESU instructor and Peterson Planetarium director Mark Brown, who will travel to Indianapolis. This is necessary because the total eclipse won’t be visible from Emporia. Those in Emporia, however, will be able to see a partial eclipse beginning at 12:34 p.m.
“This event is unique because the moon’s shadow will be about 45 miles wider than it was in 2017 and will touch more populated areas than it did in 2017,” Brown said. “Also, this is the last total solar eclipse that will cross the United States until Aug. 12, 2045.”
No public event is scheduled on the ESU campus, but community members who would like to see the eclipse safely through a telescope or use solar eclipse glasses are welcome to come to campus. ESU outreach staff will be on hand to assist students, faculty and staff interested in viewing the event at the rock garden area east of Cram Science Hall. They will provide telescope viewing opportunities, free solar eclipse glasses (while supplies last) and other activities.
“About 88% of the sun will be eclipsed. And even with that amount of eclipsed sun, it is still not safe to look directly at it,” Brown added. “Blindness can occur in just a few seconds.”
Anyone interested in learning about space science or touring the stars is invited to the Peterson Planetarium for a live night sky tour and all-dome video on April 11, April 25, May 9 or May 16. All events start at 4 p.m. and are free to attend. Registration is required. Learn more about each show by visiting emporia.edu/planetarium.