Eclipse Event at Green Bank Observatory

Ecplise with corona
Image similar to what West Virginians will see if they observe the eclipse this August.

Image above is similar to what West Virginians will see if they observe the eclipse this August! (Image source: RedOrbit.com)

Have you heard?! This summer, you have the chance to experience a spectacular stellar event! On August 21, the star that brings us spring flowers, warm days by the pool, and the northern lights, a.k.a. our Sun, will be eclipsed by the Moon. Want to see it? You’re invited!

The Green Bank Observatory in Green Bank, WV is hosting a Great American Eclipse viewing party. Don’t miss out on this rare event. It’s been 26 years since a partial solar eclipse was visible from West Virginia!

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s orbit puts the moon directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth’s surface. This only happens during the new moon phase, but we don’t see an eclipse every month because the Moon’s orbital path around the Earth is tilted relative to the Earth’s path around the sun. A perfect alignment between Sun, Moon and Earth is needed for an eclipse.

west to east swath of eclipse coverage
Image showing the west to east swath of totality across North America. The circles to the left and right of the central swath indicate the amount of light that will be visible from the Sun during the peak of the eclipse. In other words, it is the maximum amount of occlusion the Moon will provide during the eclipse.
Map Credit: Michael Zeiler at www.GreatAmericanEclipse.com and Fiske Planetarium

The relative positions of the Earth and Moon matter a lot when determining whether the eclipse will be a total or partial eclipse. This eclipse is called the Great American Eclipse because across an entire narrow swath of the country from west to east, the eclipse will be total. West Virginians will be able to see a 90% partial eclipse this August. This means only 10% of the Sun’s light will be visible from behind the Moon!

So join us from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM for a day of food, fun, and education!

  • Hands-on Activities from 11 AM- 12 PM
  • Lunch and Exhibits from 12 PM – 4 PM
  • SAFE Eclipse Viewing through telescopes and projections. Plus live streaming video of the eclipse provided by NASA from 1 PM – 4 PM

Our Great American Eclipse lunch will be “All American” too! For $5.00 you will be able to purchase:

  • Two slices of pizza and a soda
  • Two hotdogs, chips, and a drink*
  • A hamburger, chips, and a drink*

*Cash Only Options. Additional bags of chips and drinks may be purchased for $0.50 and $1.00 respectively while supplies last.

Showing up for the event is free so tell your neighbors, pack up the family, and head to 155 Observatory Rd. Green Bank, WV 24944.

Important Note: To safely view the eclipse with your eyes you need to use special eclipse glasses.  These are super dark – much darker than sunglasses! So whether you join our eclipse party or plan to be somewhere else on August 21, you can purchase a pair of eclipse glasses for just $2.00 each at our Gift Shop. Eclipse glasses are on sale now, call (304) 456-2150 for details!

Learn more about eclipses and specifically about the Great American Eclipse:

We would love to know if you’re joining us! Visit our Great American Eclipse event page on Facebook and let us know you’re attending today!

Green Bank Observatory

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