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Eclipse: GVSU Physics Dept. Partners With GRPM

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On Monday, August 21… all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun.  If you’re within the “Path of Totality”, you’ll be able to see a rare “total” solar eclipse.  In Michigan, we’re outside the  total eclipse path, but we will see a “partial solar eclipse”, which experts say is still quite remarkable.

“There is an official eclipse party at the Grand Rapids Public Museum and some of my colleagues will be there to help with that event, bringing telescopes that are safely filtered to allow people to see the eclipse happening, up close.“

That’s Doug Furton, Physics Professor at Grand Valley State University.  He says GVSU’s Physics Department is partnering with the Grand Rapids Public Museum for the museum’s Eclipse Party. That event will run from 10am until 3pm at the museum, allowing plenty of time to view the event.

“But it should be pointed out that this is an event that happens rather slowly. You might first notice the moon sliding in front of the sun around 1 o’clock, but it won’t be finished until around 4.”

Furton says for those in the “Path of Totality” will see a rare “total” solar eclipse, but the view in Michigan, will still be a good one.

“ In Michigan, we’re a bit north of the path of totality, but the eclipse will be pretty deep for us. More than 8/10’s of the sun will be blocked out by the moon and that will make things look pretty interesting, pretty unusual, it definitely will be a sight to see, even if you’re not in the path of totality… “

Furton, like many other experts in astronomy, that safety should be a top priority for eclipse enthusiasts… but the rules are the same, when it comes to the sun.

“It’s not new advice, one should never really look at the sun, you’ll burn your retinas and cause serious damage, there’s nothing about the eclipse that makes it more dangerous.”

If you plan on viewing the eclipse, experts say you should us special eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers, or you can make a pinhole projector from cardboard.  To help keep viewers safe, The Regional Math and Science Center will be distributing eclipse glasses at three locations on the Allendale campus of GVSU on Monday.

(The Connection, Outside the RMSC office and two spots near Mackinac Hall. )

If you by chance miss this total solar eclipse, NASA says you’ll get another chance, in 2024.

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.