The Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017: Kirksville, Mo

WE ARE SOLD OUT OF ECLIPSE GLASSES

Event Date Time (CST) Alt Azi
Start of partial eclipse 8/21/2017 11:44:53 AM 55.6° 139.2°
Maximum eclipse 8/21/2017 1:11:57 PM 61.7° 179.2°
End of partial eclipse 8/21/2017 2:37:52 PM 56.1° 219.2°

ECLIPSE DAY EVENTS IN KIRKSVILLE

The total solar eclipse occurring on the 21st of August 2017 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage students, faculty, and the general public in topics related to astronomy and science. The eclipse path cuts diagonally across Missouri, and Kirksville will witness 98% obscuration of the Sun by our Moon. August 21st 2017 happens to be the first day of classes at Truman State University for the academic year.

Several Solar telescopes and solar binoculars will be set up at FOUR locations across Kirksville (see map below) for members of the general public to view the eclipse. These locations are:

  1. Truman State University Campus (near SUB water fountain/Planetarium)
  2. Truman State Observatory (farm)
  3. Adair County Public Library and,
  4. Moberly Area Community College

Solar Eclipse Viewing Locations (21st August 2017)
Click on the map for directions:

Planned Activities

  1. Solar scopes will be set up across Kirksville (the county library, grocery stores, TSU campus, farmers market, etc.) twice a month to educate students and members of the community about solar activity such as sunspots, solar flares, plages, prominences, and filaments.
  2. Students will explain the science and geometry of eclipses to members of the general public.
  3. On the day of the eclipse, several solar telescopes will be set up at various locations on or near the Truman campus, the Adair County Library, and the Kirksville R-III school district campus.
  4. In addition, solar glasses will be distributed for safe viewing of the eclipse. Sunspotters, solar binoculars, and handheld spectroscopes will be available at selected sites.
  5. The Adair County Library will establish a ‘Library-Telescope program’ using some of the solar telescopes and binoculars for patrons to check out. Appropriate user-friendly modifications will be made. Library staff will be trained in safety and operation of these instruments.

Solar Eclipse Talk

Useful Links

  1. NASA Eclipse 2017 page
  2. AAS Eclipse 2017 page
  3. Night Sky Network
  4. AAPT Eclipse 2017 page
  5. NASA-JPL Museum Alliance page
  6. Eclipse2017.org page
  7. The Great American Eclipse page
  8. Tyler Nordgren’s eclipse page