From 10:06 a.m. to 12:22 p.m. P.D.T. on April 8, parts of the U.S. will be cast in shadow as the moon moves to cover the sun.
While some areas of the south and northeast of the U.S. as well as Mexico will experience
a total eclipse—when the moon completely blocks the sun—California will only see a partial eclipse. This solar eclipse marks the last time until 2044 that anywhere in the U.S. will see a total eclipse.
During the rare celestial event, astronomy enthusiasts across the CSU will be gazing at the sky. Take a look at some of the ways students and faculty are gearing up for the upcoming solar eclipse.
Sonoma State
Laura Peticolas, associate director of EdEon STEM Learning at Sonoma State, is leading the
Eclipse Megamovie, a project with more than a hundred volunteers photographing the sun as it moves across the U.S. The team plans to stitch all the photos into a movie and provide what
Peticolas refers to as “a rare opportunity to study the secret lives of solar jets and plumes.” Peticolas also oversaw the 2017 Eclipse Megamovie, which was the first crowdsourced project turning total eclipse images into a movie.
NASA’s
Neurodiversity Network (N3), a project created by Sonoma State Professor Lynn Cominsky, is partnering with several high schools within the path of totality to increase curiosity around and educate learners on the total solar eclipse. Programming includes an astronomy and rocket curriculum to accommodate autistic learners with the goal of encouraging NASA participation and STEM employment for neurodivergent students. N3 is also working with the 2024 Eclipse Megamovie project to create flyers with information on the eclipse and how to support neurodiverse learners.
Fresno State
Fresno State’s Department of Physics will host a public viewing of the eclipse at the
Downing Planetarium from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Solar telescopes will be set up for public use, and safe-viewing glasses will be available to buy for $5 at the planetarium. A free program titled “Lights Out! Eclipses: Whys, Wonders, and Wows” will run in the planetarium’s 72-seat theater, explaining the causes of eclipses and their historical significance. This program will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. In Fresno, the eclipse will reach a maximum of 50.9% coverage.
Additionally, the Fresno State
STEM Education Center, a group of faculty and students dedicated to supporting K-16+ STEM literacy, will host its own viewing on the practice field near the Science II building. A solar telescope and safe-viewing glasses will be available for interested participants.
San Francisco State
From 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the plaza in front of Thornton Hall,
SF State's Department of Physics & Astronomy will host an observation of the eclipse. For safe viewing, there will be a solar telescope and other safety equipment set up.
Ahead of the eclipse, astronomer and educator
Andrew Fraknoi visited SF State on March 11 to teach about how eclipses occur, what scientists learn from it, where it will be most visible and how to observe the eclipse and sun safely. All attendees received a free pair of safe-viewing eclipse glasses.
Cal State San Bernardino
At CSUSB, the Department of Physics and Astronomy’s viewing of the eclipse will be outside the Physical Sciences Building at 10 a.m. Students trained as “eclipse ambassadors” and donning bright pink shirts will be available to explain the phenomenon to curious observers.
Cal State Long Beach
In the Upper Quad,
CSULB's Department of Physics and Astronomy will observe the eclipse from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Safe-viewing glasses will be provided for participants. Maximum coverage will be at 11:11 a.m.
Cal State LA
Cal State LA’s
Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Honors College eclipse viewing will take place at the King Hall Courtyard from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Safe-viewing glasses will be provided for participants.
See more events from
Monterey Bay,
Northridge,
San Diego and
San Marcos.
Remember that regular sunglasses are not safe to use when viewing the solar eclipse directly. Obtain safe-viewing glasses before observing the event.