Huntsville, Ala. — The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, in collaboration with the Alabama Space Grant Consortium and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, invites the public to a solar eclipse observation event on April 8. This day-long program offers a unique opportunity to learn about and witness this celestial phenomenon. Activities are planned from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are included with general admission.
The event includes interactive exhibits and hands-on activities for children to explore the science behind solar eclipses. NASA Heliophysicist Dennis Gallagher will also be on hand to talk about the eclipse and its astronomical significance at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in the National Geographic Theater.
Members of the INTUITIVE® Planetarium team, along with students from Alabama A&M University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, will be present to guide guests in safe solar eclipse viewing through specialized telescopes set up on-site.
Free eclipse glasses will be distributed while supplies last, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees. The Huntsville area will reach its maximum solar coverage at 2:02 p.m. In the event of rain, activities will continue in the museum’s “Dare to Explore: Frontiers of Space” exhibit.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center will be prominently featured in NASA’s live coverage of the eclipse, with the broadcast displayed across various screens throughout the campus.