{"id":2955,"date":"2024-04-16T16:44:16","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T16:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/science\/?p=2955"},"modified":"2024-12-09T20:27:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T20:27:49","slug":"the-sciences-library-and-the-department-of-physics-and-astronomy-co-host-successful-solar-eclipse-viewing-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lib.uiowa.edu\/science\/2024\/04\/16\/the-sciences-library-and-the-department-of-physics-and-astronomy-co-host-successful-solar-eclipse-viewing-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Sciences Library and Department of Physics and Astronomy co-host successful solar eclipse viewing event"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was a thrilling experience to witness the partial solar eclipse that took place in the skies above Iowa City on Monday, April 8! The eclipse-viewing event, hosted jointly by the Sciences Library and the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was a huge success, with thousands of people gathering in the Sciences Library courtyard and on the Pentacrest lawn to collect free eclipse glasses, view the sun and moon\u2019s alignment through solar telescopes, make pinhole cameras, and have their faces painted with eclipse-themed motifs. About 2,300 glasses were handed out before the peak obscuration (89%!) of the sun by the moon, which occurred at 2:01 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what you might have missed if you didn\u2019t make it to our celebration in the Sciences Library courtyard.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sunspots were visible on the sun\u2019s reflected image as shown through the wooden Sunspotter solar telescope.<\/strong> Later, clouds passing across the sun could be seen in the Sunspotter\u2019s projection.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Features were clearly visible on the sun\u2019s surface through the solar telescopes<\/strong>, including sunspots and prominences dancing on the sun\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Tiny eclipses could also be seen through the holes of a colander.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Sciences Library volunteers answered many thought-provoking questions from curious attendees.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

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It was moving to see the generosity of people who shared their eclipse glasses<\/strong> so that everybody had the chance to safely view the eclipse with the naked eye (in addition to seeing it through telescopes and pinhole cameras).<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Iowa City Press-Citizen<\/em> covered the event<\/a> before it happened, and KWWL after (below)! In this segment, you can spot Conrad Bendixen, sciences reference and digital services librarian, adjusting a telescope to keep the sun in view as it moves across the sky (see Conrad at 1:39).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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