Event

See sun spots! See solar flares! Join us for an afternoon of learning about the sun, the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse, and how to view it safely from anywhere in Arkansas. We'll be using special equipment for solar viewing to get a close up view of the sun throughout the event (weather permitting) and have a few special activities detailed below. We want to extend a special invitation to teachers who can receive free eclipse glasses for classroom use, while supplies last, for attending the 1pm - 2pm eclipse talks.

Event is open to the public. Teachers, please register at www.caasastro.org/eclipse-glasses/eclipse-registration/ in order to receive the free eclipse glasses. Eclipse glasses will also be available for purchase.

12pm-1pm: Food trucks + solar viewing telescope exploration
1pm-2pm: Eclipse talks in the STEAM Lab. Teachers who attend can receive free eclipse glasses for classroom use while supplies last; please register!
2pm-3pm: Hands-on activities for families. Make your own pinhole solar viewer and other fun activities.

Date: Saturday, June 3, 2017

Time: noon - 3 p.m. Central

Location: Arkansas Innovation Hub
201 E Broadway
North Little Rock, AR 72114

Information for Visitors
Instructions for the Public:
This is not a particularly dark sight so we will concentrate on brighter objects. Nevertheless, white Lights destroy night vision.  If you bring a flash light it is best if it produce red light, or you can modify a normal white light flashlight by placing a red film in or over the lense, usually available at any craftstore.  

After dark it is always colder than you think it will be.  Dress in layers so you can respond to conditions. When at the scope feel free to refocus to your own eyes but try not to move the scope from the target. To focus find a single star, if available, and focus to make the star as small as you can make it, then look at the targeted object.  Dim objects, strangly, are best seen if you don't look directly at them but slightly to one side, basically using periphrial vison. View Planets and the moon directly. 

The eye does not see objects in a telescope with the detail or color of hubble telescope images.  However, viewing a picture is not the same thing as seeing a distant celestial object with your own eyes.  In the later case you are directly witnessing the universe and the image you see represents photons that have traveled across the vastness of space and time to fall upon your retina. It also important to know something about what you are seeing.  Don't hesitate to ask your host to elaborate on each object shown. 

Location Details