Round Rock library will again use disco balls to enhance eclipse-watching experience.

Don't just reach for the solar glasses; a disco ball might be a fun and safe way to enhance the total solar eclipse experience April 8.

Inspired by a research paper from European scientists, the Round Rock Public Library used disco balls during the annular eclipse in October and recommends people do the same for the April 8 eclipse. Officials said the use of a disco ball creates a "partylike atmosphere" to make a solar eclipse event more fun.

The mirrored ball can be placed outside where it can catch the sunlight and reflect it on a shaded wall at least several feet away, or it can be inside near a window to cast reflections of the sun around the room.

A total solar eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking its light, will move over some areas of Texas on April 8, and parts of Central Texas, including Round Rock, are in the eclipse's path of totality. Those in the 100-mile-wide path will experience total darkness, while areas outside the path will experience only partial darkness.

A thin ring of sunlight remained visible around the moon's silhouette in the October annular eclipse in Round Rock.

More: Where are the best spots to view the total solar eclipse in Texas? Here are a few options

During the eclipse in October, the library placed one disco ball in the garden on the third floor and another near a window on the third floor so they could reflect images of the eclipse on walls, youth services librarian Andrea Warkentin said. The reflected images were 4 inches long, she said.

"It was amazing the way it worked," Warkentin said. The images "were beautiful. The one that was outside, when the wind would catch it, you would have this nice swaying image of the sun all over the Discovery Garden."

Residents are invited to visit the library during the eclipse as it will re-create the experience. The library also has been distributing 2,000 solar glasses. The glasses will be available while supplies last.

During the October partial solar eclipse, Warkentin said people watching the disco balls in the library talked more about what they were seeing. She said the disco balls can make the eclipse interesting for kids. During last year's eclipse, she said, they liked standing under the disco ball to see the eclipse on their clothes.

The library set up an area for kids to play hopscotch and blow bubbles as the eclipse passed overhead. Warkentin said setting up disco balls also allows people to enjoy the event without looking up all the time.

"It's a way to make it really memorable and fun for little kids who may not really understand what's going on in the sky," Warkentin said.

From the October experience, the library contributed to a report on how to use disco balls to watch an eclipse. The library was one of three locations in the United States to provide input.

"The disco ball observations just seemed to spark joy and excitement in all of the visitors," the report said. "Lots of exclamations of 'Wow!' and 'That’s so cool!' were heard at all the different events, which made the disco ball setup completely worth the effort. It’s not every day that visitors get to walk into a room with a glowing disco ball that’s projecting science!"

More: Williamson County not issuing disaster declaration for eclipse, but says officials ready

Warkentin said she recommends people get disco balls that have smaller mirrors on them as they will create bigger and better images.

Disco balls can be found cheaply at Amazon, Walmart or any party store. Warkentin said people can even use those that are sold as Christmas ornaments, but she cautioned that the balls should have actual mirrors and not be plastic.

The library also has a free solar eclipse-inspired music playlist.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Round Rock library recommends using disco balls to enhance eclipse