NMMNHS News:
Literally and figuratively, the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (NMMNHS) is at the center of the action for the annular eclipse that will occur above Albuquerque during the final Saturday of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta!
At approximately 10:34 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 14, the moon will pass fully in front of the sun for an annular eclipse. Because of the moon’s apparent size and location in its orbit, it will not completely obscure the sun, but instead cause it to appear as a dramatic ring of light overhead.
Saturday morning, the museum is offering visitors a chance to view this phenomenon from a variety of perspectives while surrounded by NASA and NOAA experts. The museum will have outdoor eclipse viewing opportunities, including multiple solar telescopes outside on the Museum grounds, and live feeds inside the museum from specialized solar telescopes will offer unique views of the eclipse from all over the country! There will also be hands-on activities, like the museum’s one-of-a-kind lunar floor map, a continuous planetarium show showcasing the eclipse, and the chance to talk with subject experts from NASA and NOAA. These events are included in museum admission, register HERE. Purchasing tickets before the day of the event is strongly encouraged.
With a Mass Ascension slated for the same morning (weather permitting), the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will also be a hotspot for eclipse-watchers. NMMNHS’s Space Science team will have a booth set up at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum to answer questions and hand out eclipse glasses and fun educational activities. Because the sun is not fully obscured, there is no point during an annular eclipse where it is safe to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection.
Activities will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 14 at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science (1801 Mountain Road NW) and the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum (9201 Balloon Museum Dr. NE). A full list of viewing sites is available at nmeclipse.org.
