INSIDE LOOK
A CELEBRATION OF THE 2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
Excitement is building as we eagerly await the total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024. During this awe-inspiring event, the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, temporarily blocking the Sun’s light and creating a moment of complete darkness in the middle of the day. Here in Ithaca, we will witness a near-total eclipse, with the Moon blocking 99% of the Sun.
WEEKEND PROGRAMMING, APRIL 6-7
The weekend before the eclipse, Sciencenter staff and volunteers will welcome visitors to participate in hands-on eclipsethemed activities at the museum. From exploring the concept of scale with “Big Sun, Small Moon” to creating a miniature solar system with “Pocket Solar System,” there’s something
for everyone to enjoy. Remember, looking directly at the Sun is unsafe. To promote safe viewing practices, we have eclipse glasses available for free at the museum.
Don’t forget to grab a pair of Sciencenter eclipse glasses for a safe viewing experience!
PATH OF TOTALITY VIEWING, APRIL 8
The Sciencenter was invited to join the New York State Office of Parks for a day-long viewing event at Fair Haven Beach State Park on April 8. Situated within the path of totality, the eclipse will peak at 3:21 pm.
The Sciencenter team will share interactive eclipse activities. Families can experience wind tunnel experiments, shadow art with chalk, build their own moonbase, and engage with tactile NASA solar system books
to discover the marvels of our universe through touch.
AT-HOME ACTIVITIES
Unable to join us in Fair Haven for the total solar eclipse? Engage at home!
Create a solar eclipse model with cut-out crafts and fasteners. Explore “Big Sun, Small Moon” to understand apparent size and debunk misconceptions about Sun and Moon size. Build your own solar system using Solar System Trek in the DIY Solar System app. All activities are available at sciencenter.org/eclipse
Whether you’re joining us at Fair Haven Beach State Park or from home, this total solar eclipse weekend promises to be an unforgettable experience. Celebrate the beauty and wonder of our solar system with us!
SPRING EQUINOX 2024 VOLUME 41 ISSUE 1 sciencenter.org
closed on Monday, April 8.
The Sciencenter is
INSIDE LOOK
WHAT IS A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE?
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon blocks our view of the Sun.
During totality, the Moon blocks the face of the Sun, and we can see the Sun’s corona (outer atmosphere).
The Moon is much smaller than the Sun, but much closer to Earth - during an eclipse, they have the same apparent size.
Try this: Stand a few feet away from a friend and give them a thumbs up. Close one eye - can you make their head disappear behind your thumb?
Explore at-home activities: sciencenter.org/eclipse
Community Partnerships
To generate excitement about the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, community organizations are turning to the Sciencenter to make eclipse education accessible to all.
The Sciencenter teamed up with the Finger Lakes Library System to bring Solar Eclipse Activity Kits to local libraries, many of which lie in the path of totality. These kits feature at-home activities, “Bear’s Shadow” and “Big Sun, Small Moon,” that library patrons can check out.
Sagan Planet Walk
Explore our solar system year-round with the Sciencenter’s Sagan Planet Walk, a 1,200-meterlong scale model from Downtown Ithaca to the Sciencenter.
To help families explore the solar system at home, the Sciencenter partnered with the NISE Network, Children’s Creativity Museum, The Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Museum of Life and Science to create the DIY Solar System app. DIY Solar System is available in English and Spanish for iPhones/iPads and Android devices.
The Sciencenter team extended its reach nationally by developing and distributing activity kits focusing on NASA’s exploration of the moon and beyond to 350 museums and planetariums.
Join Bill Nye, The Science Guy on a audio tour as he narrates a journey to the Sun, eight planets, and dwarf planet Pluto.
To get the map, visit sciencenter.org/planet-walk
Mini-Golf & Science Park Opens April 1
Play our 18-hole science-themed mini-golf course, or explore our 2000-square-foot multi-story Science Park.
Find up-to-date information about our hours, events, programs, and more on our website: sciencenter.org
