More Information To see what the eclipse will look like, click here or go to www.christmaseclipse.com
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Contact:
Barbara Anthony-Twarog, (785) 864-3910
KU News by email
LAWRENCE -- The University of Kansas Tombaugh Observatory will open to the public Christmas Day to provide a safe view of the partial solar eclipse.
If the sky is clear, the observatory at Lindley Hall will be open from 10 a.m. to noon. A six-inch Alvan Clark telescope will be in use to safely project an image of the sun that can be seen by a number of people at one time, said Barbara Anthony-Twarog, professor of physics and astronomy.
The main door to the hall near the Chi Omega fountain will be open for public access.
The Christmas eclipse will begin in eastern Kansas at about 9:30 a.m. and last until 12:40 p.m. At its height, approximately 45 percent of the sun's disk will be covered by the moon. A solar eclipse is caused when the moon passes between the sun and Earth.
Extreme care must be taken when watching a solar eclipse. The sun does not pose any more danger during an eclipse, but people who stare directly at the sun during an eclipse can cause permanent damage to their eyesight.
Experts advise people to never look directly at the sun with the naked eye or through any optical device such as a camera, binoculars or telescope. There are a several types of filters available that are designed specifically for viewing the sun. People also can use the pinhole projection method to safely watch the eclipse.
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