It's a once in a lifetime event that you won't want to miss. Iowa isn't in the path of totality, but we come very close....
NASA will live stream the total solar eclipse from a few locations along the path.
Iowa isn't in the path, except for a tiny corner of the state in the southwest portion. There are a few eclipse events in Iowa and many public libraries are offering viewing events, as well.
Iowans can experience a partial solar eclipse next Monday, August 21, 2017. In some areas, the moon will visibly cover 95% of the sun.
The thin path of totality passes through 14 states, but everyone in North America, parts of South America, Europe, and Africa will experience at least a partial eclipse.
The single NASA endorsed eclipse event is in Des Moines at the West Terrace of the Iowa State Capital Building. Here, you'll see a partial solar eclipse with near-darkness the afternoon of August 21st.
This event is free and open to the public. The eclipse begins at 11:42am at this location. Maximum eclipse at 95% obscuration is at 1:08pm. The eclipse ends at 2:33pm.
A great place to watch the eclipse is at a National Park.
National parks offer a beautiful setting to enjoy the eclipse. Pack a picnic and make a day of it. There's no way to know how crowded these popular locations will be on the 21st, so plan accordingly.
The Iowa City Public Library at 123 South Linn Street has a special solar eclipse celebration planned for kids and teens.
The Solar-Bration of the solar eclipse starts at 1pm on August 21st and ends at 2:30pm in Meeting Room A. There will be a limited number of solar eclipse glasses available. If you plan to attend this event, it's best to bring your own just to be safe. Contact the library at 319-356-5200 with questions.
UNI is hosting a Solar Eclipse viewing party in the Rod Library in Room 287 and south of the Campanile from noon until 2pm.
This event is open to the public and free of charge. Participants can view the eclipse through a telescope or with solar viewing glasses.
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque is offering a free event between 9am and 2:30pm on the 21st in the Museum and Aquarium plaza.
There will be educational activities for kids and adults. While there will be a limited number of free ISO-approved viewing glasses available, it's best to plan ahead and bring your own.
Observe the partial eclipse from the University of Iowa campus outside the Sciences Library or on the Pentacrest.
There will be viewing stations equipped with eclipse glasses and telescopes between 11:30am and 3pm. Eclipse experts, staff, student experts, and faculty will be there to answer questions and demonstrate safe viewing.
No matter where you decide to see the eclipse, remember to protect your eyes. Keep kids under close supervision. Eye damage isn't usually painful, and it happens fast. It's also irreversible.
If you wear eyeglasses, keep them on and put the eclipse glasses on over them. Do not look up at the bright sun without eclipse glasses or a solar viewer at any point during the eclipse. Iowa isn't experiencing total darkness during this event, with the exception of the tiny southwestern corner, so people watching the event must keep their eyes protected for the duration.
Over 7,000 public libraries across the country are hosting Great American Eclipse events. To find out if there’s one near you, visit the SpaceScience.org website.
Whether you choose to watch the partial eclipse from home, gather with friends and family, or travel to an area where the eclipse creates total darkness, eye safety is important. To learn more about how to stay safe while enjoying this amazing event, click here.
If you know of other public viewing events happening around Iowa, we’d love to know about them. Tell us about it in our comments section.
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