Friends! Exciting news! Two different eclipses will be visible in the coming months: one in October 2023 and again in April 2024!
IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDER FROM NASA: You should never look at the sun directly without equipment that's specifically designed for looking at the sun. Even using binoculars or a telescope, you could severely damage your eyes or even go blind! Solar eclipses themselves are safe. But looking at anything as bright as the sun is NOT safe without proper protection. (Sunglasses do NOT count.)
In preparation for the eclipses, check out these excellent videos from our esteemed friends and partners Rick Varner of the Scobee Education Center and Pedro Valdes Sada, astronomy professor and host of the podcast Obsesión por el Cielo.
On Saturday, October 14th, 2023, we will be able to witness an annular solar eclipse in the San Antonio metropolitan area. This occurs when the Moon passes exactly in front of the Sun blocking its light, but because the Moon is a little further away from the Earth than usual in its elliptical orbit, it will not be able to cover the Sun completely. For a few minutes we will see the Sun as a bright and thin ring in the sky. Please enjoy and be sure to follow these safety precautions for safely viewing the 2023 annular eclipse, which you can see here.
And, after experiencing the eclipse on Saturday, October 14, join KLRN in the evening for our annual fun-filled Fall Fest! Fall Fest will be held in the evening of Saturday, October 14 from 6pm-9pm at the Mission Marquee Plaza. Our special guest character will be Luna from Let’s Go Luna!
Amazingly, just a few months after the eclipse on October 14, on April 8, 2024, the northwest side of San Antonio and northwest of the city, will be able to see a total eclipse! From NASA, “A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.” Please enjoy and be sure to follow these safety precautions, for safely viewing the 2024 total eclipse, which you can see here.
Stay safe and still enjoy the sun's stellar shows by creating your very own pinhole camera. It's easy! With just a few simple supplies, you can make a pinhole camera that lets you watch a solar eclipse safely and easily from anywhere.
From: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/
Please find more information about these events, including important safety advice, a map of various eclipse viewing locations around the city, and more at sanantonioeclipse.org.
We are excited about all of these amazing events! Please reach out to us with any questions at education@klrn.org.
Generous support for these programs and activities is provided by OCI Solar Power.
Español
KLRN Blog y Recursos para Eclipses de 2023 y 2024
¡Amigos! ¡Emocionantes noticias! Dos eclipses diferentes serán visibles: ¡uno en octubre de 2023 y otro en abril de 2024!
AVISOS IMPORTANTES DE NASA: Nunca debe mirar al sol directamente sin un equipo diseñado específicamente para mirar al sol. Incluso usando binoculares o un telescopio, ¡podría dañar gravemente sus ojos o incluso quedarse ciego! Los eclipses solares en sí mismos son seguros. Pero mirar algo tan brillante como el sol NO es seguro sin la protección adecuada. (Las gafas de sol NO cuentan).
En preparación para los eclipses, echa un vistazo a estos excelentes videos de nuestros estimados amigos y socios Rick Varner del Centro de Scobee Education Center y Pedro Valdés Sada, profesor de astronomía y presentador del podcast Obsesión por el Cielo.
El sábado 14 de octubre de 2023, podremos presenciar un eclipse solar anular en el área metropolitana de San Antonio. Esto ocurre cuando la Luna pasa exactamente frente al Sol bloqueando su luz, pero debido a que la Luna está un poco más lejos de la Tierra de lo habitual en su órbita elíptica, no podrá cubrir el Sol por completo. Durante unos minutos veremos el Sol como un anillo brillante y delgado en el cielo. Disfrute y asegúrese de seguir estas precauciones de seguridad para ver de manera segura el eclipse anular de 2023, que puede ver aquí.
Y, después de experimentar el eclipse el sábado 14 de octubre, ¡únase a KLRN por la noche para nuestro Festival de Otoño anual lleno de diversión! Fall Fest se llevará a cabo en la noche del sábado 14 de octubre de 6 p.m. a 9 p.m. en Mission Marquee Plaza. ¡Nuestro personaje invitado especial será Luna de Let's Go Luna!
Sorprendentemente, solo unos meses después del eclipse del 14 de octubre, el 8 de abril de 2024, el lado noroeste de San Antonio y el noroeste de la ciudad, ¡podrán ver un eclipse total! Un eclipse solar total ocurre cuando la Luna pasa entre el Sol y la Tierra, bloqueando completamente la cara del Sol. El cielo se oscurecerá como si fuera el amanecer o el anochecer". Por favor, disfrute y asegúrese de seguir estas precauciones de seguridad, para ver con seguridad el eclipse total de 2024, que puede ver aquí.
Manténgase seguro y disfrute de los espectáculos estelares del sol creando su propia cámara estenopeica. ¡Es fácil! Con solo unos pocos suministros simples, puede hacer una cámara estenopeica que le permita ver un eclipse solar de manera segura y fácil desde cualquier lugar. De: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/how-to-make-a-pinhole-camera/
Encuentre más información sobre estos eventos, incluidos consejos de seguridad importantes, un mapa de varios lugares de observación de eclipses en la ciudad y más en sanantonioeclipse.org.
¡Estamos entusiasmados con todos estos increíbles eventos! Póngase en contacto con nosotros si tiene alguna pregunta en education@klrn.org. ¡Gracias, amigos!
VIDEOS
KLRN Session: All About Eclipses with Rick Varner
KLRN Sesión: Todo Sobre los Eclipses
Prepping for the 2024 Solar Eclipse (26m, 46 s)
https://video.klrn.org/video/prepping-for-the-2024-solar-eclipse-4iiigp/
Sci-Tech: KLRN-produced video featuring Michelle Risse from Scobee from 2017:
San Antonio College is helping residents safely watch the Solar Eclipse. Hear from teachers at the SAC Planetarium about the eclipse, what we can see, and how to safely view it.
https://video.klrn.org/video/aug-18-2017-eclipse-6qibsa/ (Start at 1:10, or 1:16 and end at 2:15)
Living St. Louis: Featuring Dr. Angela Speck:https://video.klrn.org/video/dr-angela-speck-ysjqsl/
Five Phases of Solar Eclipse:https://video.klrn.org/video/five-phases-of-solar-eclipse-uarmxh/
UTSA-Produced Eclipse Videos:
(En español) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDE6aGaLhuY
(In English) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkcZUN0FhjM
ECLIPSE VIEWING LOCATIONS / UBICACIONES DE VISUALIZACIÓN DE ECLIPSES
October Eclipse Viewing Parties Locations (Please see this map)
Lugares de las fiestas de observación del eclipse de octubre (Por favor, vea este mapa)
ACTIVITIES TO TRY AT HOME / ACTIVIDADES PARA PROBAR EN CASA
Ready Jet Go! | Make a Moon Phase Box Did you know the moon has different phases? Observe with your child how the shape of the moon appears to change night after night. Make a moon phase box to get a closer look at how and why the moon’s shape appears to change. / ¿Sabías que la Luna tiene diferentes fases? Observa con tu niño cómo la forma de la Luna cambia noche tras noche. Hagan una caja para las fases de la luna para ver de cerca cómo y por qué la forma de la Luna cambia.
Ready Jet Go! | Moon Observation Journal Ever wonder why the Moon appears to change shape or why its surface looks the way it does? In this activity from Ready Jet Go!, your child can spend some time looking up at the Moon and then track and record their observations in this easy-to-make journal. / ¿Alguna vez te has preguntado por qué la Luna parece cambiar de forma o por qué su superficie se ve de la manera en que lo hace? En esta actividad de Ready Jet Go!, su hijo puede pasar algún tiempo mirando hacia la Luna y luego rastrear y registrar sus observaciones en este diario fácil de hacer.
Greetings from Around the World: Language Cards | Let's Go Luna! Learn how to greet a friend in eight different languages with your favorite characters from Let's Go Luna! / ¡Aprende a saludar a un amigo en ocho idiomas diferentes con tus personajes favoritos de Let's Go Luna!
ORGANIZATIONS WITH ECLIPSE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES / ORGANIZACIONES CON RECURSOS EDUCATIVOS DE ECLIPSE
Organization Name: American Astronomical Society
Website: https://eclipse.aas.org/
About: The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America, and helps prepare citizens of, and visitors to, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to safely experience and enjoy the upcoming solar eclipses.
Two major solar eclipses are coming to North America! On Saturday, October 14, 2023, an annular ("ring of fire") eclipse sweeps from Oregon to Texas in a 125-mile-wide path that continues to the Yucatán peninsula and northern South America. Six months later, on Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse darkens a 115-mile-wide swath from Mexico to Eastern Canada, traversing the U.S. from Texas to Maine in the process. In both cases virtually all of North America will have at least a partial solar eclipse.
What age would this work for: General Public, Early Childhood, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: KLRN PBS Television
Website:https://www.klrn.org/
About: Our mission is to open a world of lifelong learning through trustworthy and enriching programs on-air, online and in our community. Our vision is to be indispensable to our community's well-being by using the power of media to inform, entertain and inspire.
Contact information: Rachel Salinas, KLRN Director of School Services: rsalinas@klrn.org
What age would this work for: General Public, Early Childhood, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: Witte Museum
Website:https://www.wittemuseum.org/
About: The Witte Museum inspires people to shape the future of Texas through relevant and transformative experiences in nature, science and culture. As San Antonio’s most-visited museum, the Witte reaches a diverse audience of hundreds of thousands from within Bexar County and beyond.
Contact information: (210) 357-1900 , SarahRowley@wittemuseum.org
What age would this work for: General Public, Early Childhood, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: DoSeum
Website:https://www.thedoseum.org/
About/Events: Moon At Noon: October 14 | 11am - 12pm: We are OVER THE MOON that this year's Annular Eclipse will pass right over San Antonio, creating an out-of-this world ring of fire in the sky! Join us Saturday, October 14, for our eclipse-viewing party! Free admission will be granted to the first 500 guests, who will also receive special viewing glasses. What Is An Annular Eclipse? An annular eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while it is at or near its farthest point from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away from us than normal, it appears smaller than the Sun and does not completely cover it. And please remember: It is NEVER safe to look directly at the Sun without special eye protection designed for solar viewing. - Solar System Exploration, Nasa.gov
Another big upcoming event happening soon: Eclipse Educator Kickoff Event on Saturday, September 9 at 6pm: It’s a place where interactive fun and hands-on learning come together—a place where minds are always at play. The DoSeum offers exhibits, programs, camps, classes, and field trips designed for all learners, encouraging young minds to explore the joy of learning through connections to STEM, the arts, and literacy. Originally founded as San Antonio Children’s Museum, The DoSeum has grown over the past 25 years to become a premier leader in informal education, while still staying true to the mission of connecting families and transforming communities.
Contact information: (210) 212-4453 , Richard Kissel, Chief Program Officer: rkissel@thedoseum.org
What age would this work for: General Public, Early Childhood, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: Southwest Research Institute
Website:https://www.swri.org/
About: SWRI is composed of R&D problem solvers providing independent, premier services to government and industry clients. Our multidisciplinary nature allows us to rapidly assemble diverse teams to tackle problems from multiple directions. We push the boundaries of science and technology to develop innovative solutions that advance the state of the art and improve human health and safety. Operating as a nonprofit since our 1947 inception, we work in the public’s best interest and toward the betterment of humanity. And as a contract R&D organization, we are here when you need us.
Contact information: Tracy Becker, Group Lead R&D Southwest Research Institute: tracy.becker@swri.org
What age would this work for: General Public, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: Alamo STEM Ecosystem
Website:https://www.alamostemecosystem.org/
About: A STEM Learning Ecosystem encompasses schools, community settings such as after-school and summer programs, science centers and museums, and informal experiences at home and in a variety of environments that together constitute a rich array of learning opportunities for young people. A learning ecosystem harnesses the unique collaborations of all these different settings in symbiosis to deliver STEM learning for all children. The Alamo STEM Ecosystem is an active, cross-sector partnership working to bridge youth, community, and the workforce in San Antonio, Texas.
Contact information: 210-444-1710 ext. 1737 , alamostem.ecosystem@esc20.info
What age would this work for: General Public, Early Childhood, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: Scobee Education Center
Website:http://sacscobee.org/
About: The Scobee Education Center at San Antonio College is dedicated to engaging our students and community in life-changing experiences that inspire the pathways to STEAM careers. The Center was established on the campus of San Antonio College in memory of the lives given by the seven crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger/STS-51LL "Teacher in Space" mission. Our goal is to carry on the crew's educational mission, to spark youth interest and joy in science and engineering.
Contact information: Richard Varner, Director Scobee Education Center: rvarner4@alamo.edu (210) 486-0402
What age would this work for: General Public, Early Childhood, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: UTSA Department of Physics and Astronomy
Website:https://www.utsa.edu/physics/
About: The Department of Physics and Astronomy at UTSA offers undergraduate and graduate students research opportunities in six principal areas: Astrophysics and Cosmology, Biophysics, Computational Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Science, and Nanotechnology and Ultramicroscopy. The Department also encourages collaborations among different research groups, across campus, and with other institutions, including the Space Physics and Instrumentation Graduate program with Southwest Research Institute. The Department offers first-rate facilities in atomic force microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, ultrafast optical spectroscopy and microscopy, terahertz spectroscopy, pulsed laser thin film deposition, thin film characterization, atomic layer deposition, and mass spectrometry. The research carried out by the faculty members is avant-grade and proudly produces many publications in high impact, world renowned journals.
Contact information: Department Chair: Dr. Angela Speck: Phone: (210) 458-6316, PhysicsAndAstronomy@utsa.edu
What age would this work for: General Public, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: The American Astronomical Society (AAS)
Website: https://eclipse.aas.org/workshops/sep2023
About: The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America, and helps prepare citizens of, and visitors to, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to safely experience and enjoy the upcoming solar eclipses.
Contact information: https://eclipse.aas.org/contact-us
What age would this work for: General Public, Early Childhood, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: IDRA: Intercultural Development Research Association
Website:https://www.idra.org/
Services they offer: IDRA is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity for every child through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college. IDRA strengthens and transforms public education by providing dynamic training; useful research, evaluation, and frameworks for action; timely policy analyses; and innovative materials and programs.
Contact information: Dr. Stephanie Garcia
What age would this work for: General Public, Early Childhood, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
Organization Name: San Antonio Astronomical Association (SAAA)
Website:http://sanantonioastronomy.org/
Services they offer: The San Antonio Astronomical Association promotes the study of astronomy and related sciences, to pursue observation, and construction of instruments as a hobby.
Contact information: Dan Cruz, daniel@dlcruz.com
What age would this work for: General Public, School Age, Postsecondary, Family
