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The darker the better: WVU is ready for ‘The Great American Eclipse’

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What’s the News?
West Virginia University is ready for The Great American Eclipse, the first to be seen across the continental U. S. in more than 20 years. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is hosting a pre-eclipse event Saturday (Aug. 19) from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will receive “passports” that take them on a self-guided tour of mini-lectures, hands-on activities, planetarium shows and rooftop observing. The event is the finale of a summer of preparation for the eclipse.

Quotes and Comments
The Department of Physics and Astronomy and WVU Extension Service teamed up to teach West Virginia youth how to share this historic event by distributing eclipse glasses to 6th graders, 4-H campers and community members so they could engage in the experience without cost or travel. Experts also traveled to local schools to talk about the eclipse and provide educational material to teachers. 4-H camp volunteers provided a “Summer Science Experiment” to more than 100 4-H camps.

Resources
The Great American Solar Eclipse

2017 Camp Science Experiment

WVU Libraries: The Path of the Eclipse

WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy

WVU Extension Service

Target Audiences
Science educators
Students
Astronomy buffs

-WVU-

Contact: Kathryn Williamson
WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy
304.293.5099; kewilliamson@mail.wvu.edu