The first day of classes for the coming school year will include a unique learning opportunity. Aug. 21, 2017 will feature a solar eclipse across 14 states. Kirksville is near the path of totality and will witness a 98 percent obscuration of the sun by the moon.

In preparation for the eclipse, faculty members and students from the Stargazers astronomy club have been working on events to help the community experience the rare occurrence. Solar telescopes and solar binoculars will be set up the day of the event on campus near the Student Union Building Mall and at the observatory located at the University Farm. They will also be accessible at the Adair County Public Library and the Moberly Area Community College parking lot on Normal Street. Additionally, there will be other means for observing the eclipse, including sunspotters and solar-funnels. These events are free and open to everyone.

In the lead up to the eclipse, the Stargazers will set up solar telescopes at various locations in Kirksville. They also are selling eclipse glasses for $1, with proceeds supporting the observatory. Anyone interested in purchasing glasses can contact Vayujeet Gokhale at gokhale@truman.edu.

Useful links regarding the eclipse can be found at observatory.truman.edu/eclipse2017.