MANHATTAN —The Flint Hills Discovery Center's Education staff and local astronomers will host a free and safe viewing of the annular solar eclipse on Saturday, October 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m, according to a media release.
Chris Sorensen, amateur astronomer, will give a presentation in our classroom at 10 a.m. to learn what makes this type of eclipse special and how to safely view it.
There will also be come-and-go viewing opportunities in Blue Earth Plaza anytime from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Solar viewing glasses will be provided, and 4.5”, 5”, and 6” telescopes with solar filters will be set up for observing the phenomenon.
In Manhattan, we will have an approximately 70% eclipse, and it will be at its maximum around 11:45 a.m.An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while it is at its farthest point from Earth, making the moon appear smaller than the sun which creates a “ring of fire” effect in the sky.
This rare celestial occurrence will not be visible in our area for approximately another eight years.