Next Monday, April 8th, a total solar eclipse will be making its way across the center of North America. Here in Central Florida, roughly 65% of the sun will be blocked by the moon and will still make for a cool celestial experience.
I would plan to be outside between 1:40 p.m. and 3:30 p:m as the partial eclipse will begin to be visible at 1:46 p.m with the maximum eclipse happening just before 3:00 p.m. During last year’s partial eclipse, our family enjoyed making sidewalk shadows with our hands and seeing how different trees and leaves looked along the sidewalk. Since a portion of the sun is blocked, tree leaf shadows transform to hundreds of crescent moons instead of their usual full shape. My four-year-old found this experience to be hysterically silly!
All you need to enjoy the eclipse is a pair of eclipse viewing glasses. There are online tutorials to make your own DIY pair or you can purchase for a few dollars from Home Depot or Lowe’s. These glasses are crucial for being able to keep your eyes safe during the eclipse and offer much more protection than your average pair of sunglasses.
Here are events around town:
Seminole State’s Emil Buehler Planetarium is hosting a live stream event featuring unique views of the progress of the eclipse using various telescopes. The livestream will take place from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Here is a link if you want to watch along or in case of poor weather!
Orlando Science Center is hosting a stellar party for the solar eclipse from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tickets are required but everyone will receive a pair of eclipse viewing glassing and enjoy special eclipse-themed programming, as well as gain exclusive access to the Science Center’s exhibits. In the event of bad weather, the Orlando Science Center has arranged live streaming from various locations. Tickets are available here.
Orange County Libraries is hosting a series of educational events for families leading up to the solar eclipse as well as Eclipse Viewing Parties with access to free glasses.
- Wednesday, April 3rd at 3:30 p.m. Downtown Orlando Library is hosting Solar Bingo! Test your knowledge of the solar terms with Solar bingo, trivia and fun activities to celebrate the Solar Eclipse. Eclipse glasses will be provided while supplies last. Recommended for families.
- Wednesday, April 3rd at 4:00 p.m. Hiawassee Library is hosting Solar Cupcakes! Explore aspects of the Sun and the solar system by modeling them as solar cupcakes. Recommended for ages 7 and up.
- Saturday, April 6th at 11:00 a.m. Hiawassee Library is hosting Sizzling Solar Oven! Create a solar-powered oven to bake up a yummy treat! Participants will construct a solar oven out of a cardboard box and cook with the Sun! Recommended for families with children ages 6 and up.
- Monday, April 8th 1:00 p.m. Various Branches will be hosting an Eclipse Viewing Party where you can step outside and view the eclipse in real time and participate in other eclipse activities. Eclipse glasses will be provided while supplies last. Recommended for all ages.
- Southeast
- South Creek
- Eatonville
- Chickasaw
- Winter Garden
- Alafaya
- Fairview Shores***
- North Orange
- Southwest
- Downtown Orlando
- Windermere**
- Washington Park**
- **Windermere and Washington Park branches will also be hosting an educational program at 1:30 p.m. answering the question “How does the Moon almost cover the Sun when it is nearly 400 times smaller?” Families will discover how distance affects how objects can appear similar in size.
- ***Fairview Shores branch will also be hosting a decorate your own sun cookie event at 3:00 p.m. Families can explore aspects of the Sun and solar activity by modeling them as solar cupcakes. Recommended for adults and families with children ages 5 and up.
60% eclipse not enough for you? That’s our family too! My husband and I traveled to Nashville, TN during the 2017 total solar eclipse and this year we will be traveling to northern Ohio to enjoy two minutes of 100% totality with our daughter. We are so excited to share this surreal experience with her and we won’t have another chance until she is in her early 20s. I’m thinking she won’t be as willing a participant and will probably eye roll me endlessly playing total eclipse of the heart on repeat. We are trying to soak in this time where everything is still magic and the universe is full of surprises.
