The total solar eclipse will begin on Monday, Aug. 21,
2017 at 11:46 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m. The maximum visibility will be at 1:16
p.m. The last total solar eclipse viewed from the United States was on Feb. 26,
1979. It’s been 38 years since we saw one in Houston.
Local Events
1. Houston
Public Library, Central Library, STEM @ Your Library, 12-2PM, Come experience
the solar eclipse in a safe and fun way.
Protective viewing devices provided. For all ages; http://houstonlibrary.org/learn-explore/library-events/stem-your-library-117.
2. Children’s
Museum of Houston, 11AM-3PM, Pinhole Viewers; also Pinhole Viewer Workshop, $5
and other activities; http://www.cmhouston.org/event/solar-eclipse-viewing-party
3. Houston
Museum of Natural Science, 12-2PM, 15-minute shows in Planetatrium, $4, plus filtered
telescopes set up outside; http://www.hmns.org/education/families/family-events-and-classes/the-great-american-eclipse/.
4. Levy
Park, 12-2 PM, Eclipse
Over Houston with Lunar and Planetary Institute.
5. HCPL
Freeman Library in Clear Lake, 12-2PM, The
Lunar and Planetary Institute's Watch Party.
6. Other
HCPL Libraries: Tomball, 11AM-2:30PM; Crosby, 12-2PM; Galena Park 12-1PM;
Stratford, 12-2PM; Fairbanks, 1-2PM; Katherine Tyra at Bear Creek, 1-2:45PM;
LaPorte 1-1:30PM; http://www.hcpl.net/content/eclipse-hcpl.
7. Brazosport
Center for the Arts and Sciences, 11:30AM-3PM, planetarium show for children; http://bcfas.org/solar-eclipse-event/.
8. NASA
Johnson Space Center showing the total eclipse from International Space
Station, 11:46AM-2:45PM; https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/2017_solar_eclipse_nasa_official_viewing_locations.html.
9. Houston
Astronomical Society, viewing party at Trini Mendenhall Community Center, 11:301m-1:30PM,
1414 Wirt Rd; https://www.astronomyhouston.org/content/where-will-you-be-great-american-eclipse.
Other Locations
1. TX
State Parks: https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/stargazing
2. US
Library events supported by StarNet: http://www.starnetlibraries.org/2017eclipse/
Live Streaming
Images
1. NASA
Eclipse Megacast, 12-4PM, providing unique broadcast coverage to watch the
total solar eclipse: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream
2. Exploratorium,
https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse
3. Smithsonian
Eclipse App, http://smithsonian-eclipse-app.simulationcurriculum.com/download.html
4. SLOOH,
https://live.slooh.com/#/?_k=42aegv
Precautions
to Take
1. Wear eclipse safety glasses. The consequence of not using
eclipse safety glasses is severe eye damage. Here are some places offering safety glasses (but many vendors are already sold out):
https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters.
2. Another
option is to create your own pinhole projector: https://media.click2houston.com/document_dev/2017/07/26/Eclipse%20Pinhole%20View%20Postcard_1501104748671_10168258_ver1.0.pdf
Sources (in addtion to those listed above):