Petoskey library to host solar eclipse viewing event April 8
PETOSKEY — On April 8, the shadow of the moon will perfectly block the sun, resulting in the first total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. since 2017.
While only a sliver of Michigan is in the path of totality, that won't stop the Petoskey District Library from hosting a viewing event for the cosmic phenomenon.
Starting at 2 p.m. April 8 at the library's Outdoor Labyrinth, a viewing party will kick off for those interested in checking out the solar eclipse. The Petoskey area is expected to see around 90 percent of totality. The eclipse is expected to end at 4:25 p.m.
The last total solar eclipse viewable from the United States was in August of 2017. After April's eclipse, the next one that will be viewable from the United States will be Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.
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Nisa Kesseler, teen services librarian, will be receiving two-days of training as a NASA partner Eclipse Ambassador and will be available to answer questions and hand out eclipse viewing glasses. An undergraduate student will be available as well.
"We're going to be close to 90 percent totality up here in Northern Michigan, which is more than the 2017 eclipse," Kesseler said. "People will get to see something that is fairly rare, and that is really interesting. You'll learn a lot more about the solar system that we live in and the cool things that happens when different planetary bodies align."
The NASA live stream will be playing in the library's Periodical Room and the lower floor as well, Kesseler said. There will be eclipse-themed coloring pages for children and other activities. People will also be able to make pinhole viewers in the Maker Space during the event.
"For a lot of people (the solar eclipse) will be a once or twice in a lifetime event," Kesseler said.
Even after the moon finishes its path crossing the sun, the library will have more opportunities for people to learn about the sun.
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The Library of Michigan has Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) Kits available that the district library has on reserve for the end of April and into May. There are kits for both adults and children, and the Petoskey library reserved both.
The kits contain a solar telescope, sunoculars, a sunspotter and sunocular minis. There are four different events scheduled to use the kits so people can learn more about the sun while viewing it safely.
"The hope is that people will still be excited to learn about the sun, all these cool things that you can do to actually study the sun and not injure yourself while doing it," Kesseler said.
Teens and tweens are scheduled at 4 p.m. on April 24, kids are scheduled for 1 p.m. on April 27 and 3:30 p.m. on May 2, and adults are scheduled for 5 p.m. on May 8. All viewings will take place at the Outdoor Labyrinth.
— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey library to host solar eclipse viewing event April 8
