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What is The Great American Eclipse?
The August 21st, 2017 solar eclipse has been named “The Great American Eclipse” because it can be seen across the entire continental United States. This is the first total solar eclipse visible in the US during the 21st century, and the next one is still over 7 years away. Though totality, when the moon completely covers the sun and causes temporary darkness, can only be seen in a few narrow bands outside of West Virginia, we will still be able to experience up to 90% coverage of the Sun by the Moon. The last time we had this opportunity here in WV was 1994 – and the next won’t be until 2024!
What are we going to do?
Throughout the summer, the WVU Physics & Astronomy Department and WVU Extension are teaming up to teach West Virginia youth how to share this historic event with their friends and families right in their very own communities.
To make this experience available to kids all over the state, we’ll be:
Creating and distributing eclipse glasses to 6th graders, 4-H campers, and community members to allow them to engage with this science experience without any cost or travel – they just need to look up!
Visiting local schools to talk about the eclipse and making educational material available to teachers and their classrooms
Working with 4-H STEM Ambassadors to train 4-H camping volunteers and provide “Summer Science Experiment” kits to over 100 4-H camps
Hosting a pre-eclipse event on Saturday, August 19th at the WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy where participants will receive “passports” that take them on a self-guided learning adventure full of mini-lectures, hands-on activities, planetarium shows, and rooftop observing
How can you help?
Donate here! Your gift goes a long way toward providing the material and support needed to make The Great American Eclipse available to as many West Virginia youth as possible.
Spread the word! Let all your friends know! Each person who sees our campaign has the potential to get involved by making a donation, joining us to experience this historic solar eclipse, or simply telling his or her friends, too. Spreading the word is as easy as clicking the buttons at the top of this page!
Come see us! Join us during our pre-eclipse event on Saturday, August 19. We’ll be in the Department of Physics and Astronomy located in White Hall on Willey Street in Morgantown, WV. If you can’t make it on the 19th, we also offer public shows in our Planetarium every other Friday throughout the Summer and would love to see you! http://planetarium.wvu.edu/
Stay in touch! Check us out on our event website and keep an eye out for our social media updates! We’ll be posting our progress as we plan and sharing all the excitement as we take this experience into your communities.
Every gift helps! Your support will make an impact for West Virginia youth across the state by helping bring science to their own backyard.
With a gift of $34, 100 more West Virginia youth can safely experience this historic solar eclipse with their friends and family.
$50 will build two more Summer Science Experiment Kits for 4-H’ers to use at camps across the state.
The average cost to send one Science Public Outreach Team ambassador to visit a WV public school before the solar eclipse to teach the science behind the event!
As 4-H STEM Ambassador’s travel to county 4-H camps throughout the summer, they’ll use Astronomy Kits to teach camp classes related to solar eclipses. With a gift of $250, we’ll be able to create two more of these kits to be delivered to camp!
$500 purchases one Sunspotter. This nifty, innovative telescope uses a system of mirrors and lenses to allow users to view the sun – and solar eclipses!