The Orange Coast College Planetarium invites members of the public to experience a partial solar eclipse via the College's solar telescopes on Monday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
During the viewing event, solar telescopes will be available for guests to observe the eclipse up close safely, and eclipse glasses will be available for purchase. During a solar eclipse, looking directly at the sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing is never safe.
Faculty and OCC's Astronomy Department students will be available to provide insights and answer any questions about this extraordinary celestial event.
"We are excited to welcome the public back to campus for another partial solar eclipse viewing event," says OCC Planetarium Manager Jessica Artinger. "The OCC Planetarium prides itself on being a community resource, and we will once again be able to showcase our fairly new telescope farm with 230 mm solar telescope, a rare resource for a community college to have."
OCC's event will take place in the OCC Planetarium, with solar telescopes in Lot E and the new telescope farm near the Planetarium. Guests are welcome to arrive as early as 10 a.m. to witness maximum coverage at approximately 11:12 a.m. Though guests will not be able to see the totality of OCC, they will have the opportunity to observe a significant portion of the eclipse. The moon will cover approximately 57% of the sun's diameter, creating a remarkable sight in the sky.
Attendees will also experience a performance from OCC's Chamber Singers in the Planetarium Lobby at 12:15 p.m. Throughout the event, guests can view a shortened version of Totality! in the dome theater of the Planetarium. During the event, guests can participate in an opportunity drawing to support the Planetarium and its community programs. The event will conclude at 12:30 p.m.
Parking for the event is free. Recommended parking is available in Lot E, with overflow parking in Lot D behind Starbucks.
RSVP for the Solar Eclipse Viewing Event at OCC's University Tickets website.
What: Solar Eclipse Viewing Event
When: Monday, April 8, from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: Orange Coast College Planetarium and Lot E
Admission: Free
Parking: Free
For questions, contact planetarium@cccd.edu or call 714-714-7430