The Natural Science and Mathematics Division of Southwestern College will host an eclipse watch event at the Keyhole Drive on the west side of the Winfield campus, weather permitting, and the public is invited to attend.  The much-anticipated solar eclipse will occur near midday on Monday, April 8.  

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun and the shadow of the moon falls on the earth’s surface.  For this eclipse, the moon’s shadow will race across the earth’s surface starting in the eastern Pacific Ocean and traveling through Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and on through a number of Midwestern and eastern states before entering the Atlantic Ocean at the Canadian Maritime Provinces.  When viewed from Cowley County, the eclipse will start at 12:31 p.m. The maximum eclipse will occur at 1:48 p.m. when 90% of the sun will be covered, and the eclipse will end at 3:06 p.m. 

The 90% coverage seen in Cowley County for this eclipse will be similar to the maximum coverage experienced in Cowley County during the August 2017 solar eclipse.  A telescope will be used to project an image of the eclipse, and a limited supply of eclipse glasses will be available for use by participants.  These eclipse glasses will be distributed near maximum eclipse at 1:45 p.m. 

“At no time will the eclipse be safe to view in Cowley County without adequate eye protection, and normal sunglasses are not sufficient,” says Bob Gallup, professor of physics and mathematics at Southwestern College. “Even at maximum eclipse, the 10% of the sun still visible will be able to cause serious and permanent eye damage.”

Questions and requests for more information can be directed to bob.gallup@sckans.edu.