Physics Colloquium to Discuss Upcoming Solar Eclipse

The Physics Colloquium continues at 4:30 p.m. March 8 in Magruder Hall 1096 with a presentation centered on the upcoming solar eclipse.

The total solar eclipse occurring Aug. 21 promises to be an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage students, faculty and the general public in topics related to astronomy and science. The eclipse path runs east to west across central Missouri. Kirksville will witness about 98.5 percent obscuration of the sun by the moon.

This session will discuss the basics of the sun-Earth-moon geometry, which leads to several interesting phenomena such as tidal locking, phases of the moon and lunar and solar eclipses. Safe ways of observing the sun and witnessing a solar eclipse will also be discussed, as well as plans for a series of events over the next few months in the lead up to the eclipse.

On the day of the eclipse, the Physics Department will be setting up several solar scopes at various locations across Kirksville and distributing solar glasses for safe viewing of the eclipse.