Did you know that a total solar eclipse will be visible in parts of the United States on Monday, August 21st, 2017? On an arching diagonal line from South Carolina to Oregon, many cities will experience a 100%, or total solar eclipse for a few minutes. Lubbock will experience a 78% max eclipse, when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun during daylight hours and partially blocks or shades the Sun’s light from reaching us. Locally, the eclipse will begin at 11:30am, peak with max coverage at 12:57pm, and then conclude at 2:26pm.

The Science Spectrum will be celebrating this amazing astronomical event by holding a *Free public Solar Eclipse Viewing Party on Monday, August 21st from 11:00am to 2:00pm on its front lawn and in the lobby.

Free Activities at the Solar Eclipse Viewing Party will include:

  • Hands-on space science activities and experiment stations
  • Solar System and eclipse crafts
  • **Safe Solar Eclipse viewings with special helmets and optical projections
  • Live streaming of the eclipse from locations experiencing a total eclipse
  • Mini planetarium shows in the Science Spectrum’s portable digital planetarium, the SpaceBubble
  • Refreshments and fun music!

Never look directly at the Sun or a solar eclipse without approved solar viewing glasses or helmets!

Additionally, the OMNI Theater will be offering special discounted screenings of the film Solar Max in the OMNI Theater at 11:00am and 2:00pm on this day for only $5.00 per person. Solar Max is the story of humankind’s journey to understand the Sun and how we relate to it, from the earliest civilizations to today. Using modern space exploration technology, we have just now begun to understand this closest star to our world. Like how every 11 years it violently erupts in an event know as a solar maximum. Solar Max is being shown at the OMNI Theater from Aug. 4th to Oct. 5th, but will be discounted this one day only.

*Solar Eclipse Viewing Party activities on the Science Spectrum front lawn and in the lobby are Free to the public, but Museum and OMNI Theater admission ticket rates still apply.

**Safe Solar Eclipse viewing glasses are available for purchase now, and will also be available on the day of the event in the Science Spectrum’s Gift Shop for $2.15 each including tax. For those not wishing to purchase their own pair of eclipse viewing glasses, free options using helmets and optical projections will be available during the event.

Never look directly at the Sun or the solar eclipse without approved solar viewing glasses or helmets!

Museum OR OMNI Theater General Admission Ticket Rates:

  • $8.00 Adults
  • $6.50 Children (ages 3-12)
  • $6.50 Seniors (60+)
  • Free for children 2 and under

The Science Spectrum Museum and OMNI Theater is a local non-profit organization dedicated to science education.

(News release from Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater)