This ain’t Texas — one of the handful of states on the path of totality for the upcoming solar eclipse — but the Bay Area has options for viewing a partial solar eclipse on April 8.
- The Lawrence Hall of Science, the learning lab and public science center for the University of California, Berkeley, is hosting an eclipse viewing party from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Entry is included in center admission; more information HERE.
- Chabot Space and Science Center is offering a ticketed viewing event. $25 for adults, $20 for kids, students, and seniors, $10 for members; more information HERE.
- The Exploratorium in San Francisco is hosting a viewing party from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Entry is included in museum admission; more information HERE.
- Danville branch library in conjunction with NASA, hosted by the Mount Diablo Astronomical Society. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. More information HERE.
According to the Lawrence Hall of Science, the moon will cover about 35% of the sun here. (You can brush up on eclipse science and learn more about the April 8 event at this NASA page.) The viewing parties in our list above include protective eyewear, but contact organizers with any questions or to confirm. Protective eyewear designed protect is essential for safe viewing. Per NASA:
Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun…
Do NOT look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.
