Excitement is building as the celestial event of the year approaches – the solar eclipse! Monday, April 8, Aurora will be treated to a breathtaking display as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. To ensure everyone can safely witness this rare occurrence and learn more about it, the Aurora Public Library District (APLD) is gearing up for a total eclipse of the… Library!
On the day of the event, the eclipse will grace Aurora from approximately 12:50 p.m. to 3:21 p.m., with the peak occurring around 2 p.m. This deep partial eclipse will reach a magnitude (maximum coverage) of about 93.6%, providing a stunning show. This is even greater coverage than the last solar eclipse in 2017, which was celebrated at the Library.
“It was great to see so many customers viewing the eclipse with a child-like sense of excitement, wonder, and awe,” said librarian Mindy Mestek who was part of the festivities at the Eola Road Branch at that time. Did you or someone you know travel to the path of totality in 2017 to view the eclipse? Hopefully, the weather will cooperate better this year and the clouds will stay out of the way! Whether it’s cloudy or not, remember that special eclipse glasses, or viewers, must be used. Luckily, APLD can help you get your hands on some.
Safety is paramount when viewing a solar eclipse. Safety glasses, or viewers, must be used when viewing any or all phases of the eclipse to protect your eyes from harmful rays, whether you are in the path of totality or not. Eclipse glasses have arms, pieces that go over the ears, while eclipse viewers are rectangles that must be held in front of your eyes.
The Library has both glasses and viewers available for the public, but to ensure fair distribution that accommodates as many customers as possible, we have put guidelines in place. Distribution will begin Friday, March 15 at 1 p.m. at the circulation desks at all APLD Library locations (and the bookmobile). Supply is limited and the items will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Each person present can receive one pair of eclipse glasses or a viewer. Families present will receive a maximum of two pairs. Glasses and viewers cannot be reserved or set aside for later pickup. Attendees of select eclipse-related programs may receive glasses or viewers, check the program’s description on our website for details.
Get ready for an array of eclipse-related programs and activities offered by the Library. “April’s eclipse is a rare event, and the Library is celebrating it with our community in a big way!” said event & program coordinator, Ali Lanthrum. From planetarium visits to space-themed crafts to movie nights; there’s something for everyone. If you can’t make it down south on the day of the event, you can still catch all the 100% magnitude action! APLD will be livestreaming NASA’s coverage of the eclipse at all Library locations from 12:45 to 3:30 p.m. Customers can enjoy the spectacle indoors without the need for eclipse glasses, or viewers.
However you see it, you won’t want to miss out on this rare cosmic event! This will be the last total solar eclipse to cross the United States until 2044. Gather your eclipse glasses, mark your calendars, and get ready to witness the magic of the solar eclipse with APLD. For more information about eclipse programming, visit our website at www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/events and use the search tag ‘eclipse’.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.