With the Earth, sun and moon set to align this afternoon for the once-in-a-lifetime solar eclipse, events to allow students, faculty and staff to view the phenomenon are planned at UNL and UNO. Classes are not being canceled, but faculty are encouraged to interrupt their classes.
In Lincoln, the sun and moon will be in alignment and cast darkness for about 90 seconds, beginning at 1:02 p.m. Special protective eyewear is needed to view the event without damaging your eyes. The university is handing out glasses to students, faculty and staff at multiple locations – beginning at 9 a.m. on City Campus at the Green Space north of the Nebraska Union, the Hall Learning Commons in Love Library and near the Sheldon Art Gallery, and in the East Campus Loop; and beginning at 11 a.m. in the greenspace west of Hamilton Hall, outside Oldfather Hall, the Willa Cather Dining Center, the Villages Living Community and Abel and Sandoz Halls.
The Lincoln Saltdogs baseball team is playing a special, eclipse-themed game. In the parking lot just outside of Haymarket Park, there will be a free science fair with interactive exhibits, activities and telescopes set up to explore during the half-hour delay in the game leading up to the total eclipse. Game tickets are not required to attend the science fair but are required for entrance to the game, which begins at noon.
On the day of the eclipse, a live stream will be embedded on the Nebraska home page – http://www.unl.edu. Live commentary will be provided by Daniel Claes, a professor and chair of the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Nebraska; Timothy Gay, Willa Cather Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Nebraska; and Richard Green, astronomer at the University of Arizona.
More information on City Campus (Lincoln) events surrounding the eclipse can be found at http://www.unl.edu/2017-solar-eclipse/
A Nebraska Today article about the eclipse is available at http://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/husker-students-faculty-staff-to-view-eclipse-together/
On Scott Campus (Omaha), NESCO (Nebraska Engineering Student Council at Omaha) is hosting an Eclipse BBQ from noon-2 p.m. in the PKI Front Courtyard. Information about other UNO/Scott Campus events is available at https://www.unomaha.edu/news/events/2017/08/solar-eclipse-on-campus-august-21.php
More details at: http://www.unl.edu/2017-solar-eclipse/