Dallas College is hosting events this school year for students and the community at large to witness two phenomena in the sky – a partial annular solar eclipse was seen on October 14, 2023, and an exceedingly rare total solar eclipse will take place on April 8, 2024.
All seven campuses across Dallas County will host viewing events with special eclipse glasses available for those in attendance to safely view this historic occurrence.
A rare sighting will soon captivate millions of sky watchers across the globe. A total solar eclipse will cross over the country Monday, April 8th. Dallas is directly in the narrow path of totality, making it a prime location to watch the historic occurrence.
Dallas College will offer faculty, students, and the community at large a safe way to witness the phenomena in the sky. All seven campuses across Dallas County will host viewing events, providing attendees with special eclipse glasses for eye protection. More than 100,000 visitors are expected to travel to the city to watch the moon temporarily cover the face of the sun.
The total solar eclipse will last approximately 3 minutes and 52 seconds, peaking just before two o'clock in the afternoon. According to NASA, in any given location on Earth, a total solar eclipse only happens every 330 to 375 years. You don't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Come and view the eclipse safely at one of our Dallas College locations. For more information on campus viewing locations, visit dallascollege.edu forward slash eclipse.
Hi everybody, I'm Heather Appelbee, a professor here at Dallas College. And in case you haven't heard, something really exciting is about to occur, right here, a total eclipse of the sun, an extremely rare event.
But before you go out to look, there's a few things really important that we need you to know. Here are the do's and don'ts of viewing a total solar eclipse. Don't stare directly at the sun with a naked eye or regular sunglasses. Doing so could lead to permanent eye damage.
Do wear specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing, like solar eclipse glasses or viewers. Don't remove your eye protection when the sun is visible. Do remove your glasses when the moon completely blocks the sun. According to NASA, it is safe to view the eclipse during the brief phase of totality. Don't take pictures of the eclipse without protecting the lenses.
Do use a solar eclipse viewer to cover your smartphone camera to avoid solar damage. Don't wait until the last minute to get on the road. More than 100,000 people will travel to Dallas to view the eclipse. Do leave ahead of time or limit transportation by taking the bus or train.
Don't forget to cover your skin from the sun's exposure. Do put on sunscreen or wear a hat and protective clothing to prevent skin damage. All right, well now that you know all the important safety precautions to take, please we hope that you come join us at any one of our seven main campuses of Dallas College to view the eclipse.
For more information, please go to dallascollege.edu forward slash eclipse. Thank you for watching.
For more information about the upcoming solar eclipse events, contact Heather Appleby, Professor of Astronomy, via email at H.Appleby@DallasCollege.edu or by calling 972-761-6728.
We will accept donations, but only personal hygiene items, ramen noodles and shelf-stable milk. All donations will help fund the Dallas College Food Pantry.
Monday, April 8, 2024
Brookhaven: Parking Lot P3
Cedar Valley: Parking Lot S1 in front of Building M
Eastfield: Parking Lot 8, soccer fields and in front of Buildings F & G
El Centro: Founder's Plaza
Mountain View: Grass field surrounded by the walking trail at the southeast side of campus at Knoxville Rd and Illinois Ave.
North Lake: Sports Complex Parking Lot
Richland: Parking Lot C
Total Eclipse (100%)
12:23 p.m. – 3:02 p.m. (peaking at 1:42 p.m.)
Total Solar Eclipse Countdown
Did you know?
Dallas College has a rich history of hosting astronomy events. Our Richland Campus was home to one of the first planetariums in the area in the 1970s and hosted multiple laser light shows every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for years. As D Magazine described the shows back in 1990, “Now this may sound weird, but these intensely rhythmic, three-dimensional, sight-and-sound fests are experiences you won’t soon forget.” Expect a couple more unforgettable experiences this school year.
Eclipse Safety
Video: Eclipse Glasses - Three Ways To Spot A Potential Problem
It is important to take the necessary safety precautions when viewing the solar eclipse. Do not look at the sun directly with the unaided eye or without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing. Sunglasses are not approved for solar viewing. Viewing the sun or a solar eclipse improperly or without correct use of safe viewing equipment can lead to permanent eye damage. Dallas College assumes no responsibility for any person causing harm to themselves or others by following unsafe eclipse viewing procedures. For more information on how to safely view a solar eclipse, please visit the NASA website.