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Observing the Great American Eclipse
July 24, 2017 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Monday, July 24
6:30 – 7:00 Reception 7:00 – 8:00pm Program
Free for members, $15 for guests
The path of “totality” of the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse, will sweep across the United States from coast to coast for the first time in 99 years — since 1918.
In an illustrated talk, astronomer Jay Pasachoff will describe to Club members how and why they and their families and friends would be dazzled if they travel into the zone of totality. This important swath across the continental United States is only 70 miles wide, and reaches from Oregon to South Carolina. We’ll learn why that is it that only within that band will the excitement of the eclipse be substantial. He will also tell us how to observe the eclipse safely and how to avoid overstating the hazards, and we’ll learn a little about the many “citizen science” projects taking place around our nation.
Prof. Pasachoff stresses that “being even 10 or 100 miles outside the path is like being outside a football stadium, ‘at the stadium’ but actually missing seeing the main event.” He would like to convince 300 million Americans from all over the country to join the 12 million people who live within the path of totality for the 2 or so minutes of totality on August 21.
Pasachoff has seen more solar eclipses than anyone ever: the August 21 solar will be his 66th solar eclipse and his 34th total eclipse. He is Chair of the International Astronomical Union’s Working Group on Solar Eclipses, a joint Working Group of the Solar and the Education/Outreach/Heritage commissions. He is also a member of the Eclipse 2017 Task Force of the American Astronomical Society. Pasachoff is Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy at Williams College.