The solar eclipse on April 8 is still many weeks away but there’s no better time than now to get ready.
In that vein, Parkland College’s Totality show at Staerkel Planetarium offers observers a prime opportunity to learn about solar (and lunar) eclipses and what to expect early that afternoon.
“We want people to be informed so they can make plans to try to experience this event because they are so rare,” said Erik Johnson, Staerkel’s director. “We did have the one in 2017, but that was the first one that went through the contiguous 48 states since 1979. We won’t have another one until 2045. We want to make sure people have a chance to see this incredible event.
“This show will show how eclipses occur and what you’d be seeing happening to the sun at that time, why we can have eclipses happen on Earth and how things similar to eclipses can happen at other places in the solar system. I think it’s a very complete show that contains all of these things.”
In addition to the film, Parkland offers live programming alongside.
“With all of our shows, we do a live tour of the night sky or we share other information from the presenter to the audience,” Johnson said. “We actually do a simulation showing how the eclipse is going to look here in Champaign County. Champaign is not in the path of totality, so we won’t have 100 percent of the sun being covered. But our simulation shows you how much of the sun does get covered on April 8 here in Champaign, about 98 percent. There’s so much that happens during totality that you really want to try to travel to be a part of that event.”
The Indianapolis area, Terre Haute, Ind., and southern Illinois are among the spots in the line of totality.
The film Totality is showing at Staerkel every Friday at 8 p.m. and every Saturday at 2 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and children.
Johnson said the program is aimed at fifth-graders and above, although children of all ages should enjoy much of the visual appeal.
“What we show up on the dome is going to be pretty visually appealing too,” he said.
And, in case you want to be prepared early, Parkland is selling the special glasses used to view the eclipse. They are $2.50.