Eclipse Events and Resources 2023-2024
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I will be continuing to add resources and updates to this page.
#1 Most Important Thing
You can easily safely watch a partial solar eclipse, and you should! You just have to know how! Here are many ways: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/safety/
My favorite way to watch a solar eclipse is the indirect method using a colander/spaghetti strainer or other object with small even holes (circles or squares, not long lines).
Turn your back to the Sun.
Hold out the colander until you see its shadow on the ground showing all those little holes. Each one of those is a perfect little image of the Sun! When the Sun is partially eclipsed, you will see little crescents. This works even better if you put down a piece of plain paper or another flat “screen” for the shadow. You can also do this by interleaving your fingers to make a “hashtag” pattern with your fingers, or just look under a tree at the dappled light shining down.
Please do not buy eclipse glasses from a large online marketplace that doesn’t specialize in astronomical viewing equipment or eclipses. The American Astronomical Society maintains a list of reputable vendors of eclipse glasses. In 2017 I had to replace the glasses of almost everyone in my entire campground because they had bought pairs that only an expert like myself could identify as counterfeits and dangerous. It was very hard to tell the difference. https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters
The glasses that Seattle Public Library and King County Public Libraries have received through the library eclipse education program are safe.
I will add images of my favorite viewing methods here in detail later. But NASA and AAS (linked above) will always have safe advice.
Here are some alternate languages:
- Amharic 2023 Annular Eclipse Safety – pdf
- Chinese (Simplified) 2023 Annular Eclipse Safety – pdf
- Somali 2023 Annular Eclipse Safety – pdf
- Vietnamese 2023 Annular Eclipse Safety – pdf
- Spanish 2023 Annular Eclipse Safety – pdf
- English Eclipse Glasses Instructions – pdf
- These are edited from Eclipse2024.org
Non-visual Observing
Feel/measure for temperature change around the maximum of the eclipse.
Listen, and participate in NASA’s Eclipse Soundscapes Citizen Science project!
My Events: When and Where?
Eclipse Viewing:
Saturday, October 14, 2023–8am-10:30am – Maximum (80%) at 9:20am
(don’t @ me if I’m a few minutes late, 8am on a Saturday is a lot)
North end of Westcrest Park. 9000 8th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98106 – near the North parking lot.
I’ll bring whatever glasses I have left, help you be sure you’re viewing safely (as long as you ask me!), and I’ll bring indirect viewers.
What if it is cloudy or raining??? Great question. Phenomenal question. Welcome to astronomy in Seattle, where “through the clouds” is our tagline.
- Thunder: cancelled
- Heavy rain/clouds: if it is the kind of weather than might clear up, I am likely to go anyway and wait it out. If it is going to stay socked in, I may cancel and drive over Snoqualmie Pass. If there is another location in Seattle where it is clearer, we may move locations. I’ll post movements on all the social media and be sure West Seattle Blog knows. I watched the transit of Venus through a filtered telescope over which we were holding an umbrella. An. Umbrella.
- Light clouds: oh yeah, we’re doing this. Our lighter clouds move around a lot, and the Sun shines through them. REMEMBER: It is NOT safe to view the eclipse through the clouds without other protection. You still need eclipse glasses or indirect methods, even though indirect methods are less likely to work when cloudy.
Monday, April 8, 2024–10:35am-12:25pm – Maximum (20%) at 11:29am
Location TBD. Might be Westcrest Park. Might be South Seattle College. Maybe the Junction. Might be elsewhere.
I’ll bring whatever glasses I have left, help you be sure you’re viewing safely (as long as you ask me!), and I’ll bring indirect viewers.
What if it is cloudy or raining???
- Thunder: cancelled
- Heavy rain/clouds: if it is the kind of weather than might clear up, I am likely to go anyway and wait it out. If it is going to stay socked in, I may cancel. I’ll post movements on all the social media and be sure West Seattle Blog knows.
- Light clouds: oh yeah, we’re doing this. Our lighter clouds move around a lot, and the Sun shines through them. REMEMBER: It is NOT safe to view the eclipse through the clouds without other protection. You still need eclipse glasses or indirect methods, even though indirect methods are less likely to work when cloudy.
—
Preparation:
Friday, September 22, 2023–6:30pm-7:30pm
I have glasses that I will vouch are safe to give away – 1 pair per household at least. I will also teach what an annual solar eclipse is, and several indirect viewing methods — including one that requires zero equipment or materials, just a human!
Cancelled due to illness. Wednesday, October 4, 2023–6pm-7pm
Online with King County Library System (register ahead of time)
Join me and prepare to safely experience the upcoming partial solar eclipse from the Pacific Northwest on October 14. Learn the scientific cause of an eclipse, as well as a peek into worldwide cultural beliefs that illuminate our human perspective on celestial events.
You will be emailed a link no later than one hour before the program start time if you register.
Resources
Detailed map for October: http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/ASE_2023_GoogleMapFull.html?Lat=47.52534&Lng=-122.34484&Zoom=18&LC=1
Detailed map for April: http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/xSE_GoogleMap3.php?Ecl=+20240408&Acc=2&Umb=1&Lmt=1&Mag=1&Max=1
