Annular Solar Eclipse Experience at Loyola University Maryland

In October, Eclipse Week began on Loyola University’s Maryland’s campus in celebration of the 2023 annular solar eclipse. Three events took place, all supported by the Astronomy Club, the Physics Club, and the Physics Department. The first event occurred on Monday, October 9th. Members of the Astronomy Club joined together to get a brief overview of solar eclipses and to create pinhole cameras to view the eclipse. Over 20 Loyola students attended this event.

 

On Wednesday, October 11th, Dr. Alex Young, a heliophysicist from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, came to Loyola’s campus to give a talk about the science behind solar eclipses. He discussed the differences between annular and total eclipses, when and where future eclipses will be seen, and many more exciting facts about our sun. Students, faculty, and people from the community came to listen to Dr. Young’s presentation.

On Saturday, October 14th, starting at 9:30 a.m., Knott Hall B03 was set up as a hub for solar eclipse viewing. Due to poor weather, the Loyola Campus could not view the eclipse directly, but people could watch live streams from different areas of North and South America, which played until 4 p.m. People floated in and out of the room, witnessing annularity multiple times.

Loyola Maryland’s Eclipse Week demonstrated the interest the campus has in astronomy. The Astronomy Club, the Physics Club, and the Physics Department are looking forward to the total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024! Watch for more planned eclipse activities during the week leading up to this event.