A total eclipse of the sun, visible from northeast Kansas, will occur on August 21st. This is the first total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States since 1979, and the first seen in Kansas in nearly 100 years.
Kansas State University Distinguished professor Chris Sorensen says the eclipse occurs when the moon gets exactly in front of the sun and its shadow falls upon the earth, creating a linear alignment.
Northeast Kansas will see the path of totality, a 68-mile-wide area, in which the moon completely covers the sun for two minutes and the sun’s corona will be visible. Over the next several months, Sorensen says Kansas State will be hosting events leading up to the eclipse.
Sorensen says he wants to make sure everyone understands the astronomical importance of this event.
Eclipse events at Kansas State, which include an astronomy viewing night and an eclipse watch party, kick-off tomorrow (4/11) with the 2017 Neff Public Lecture in Physics hosted by NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak, known as “Mr. Eclipse” for his work in the industry. His presentation begins at 4 p.m. in Cardwell Hall. More information about the 2017 Total Eclipse can be found at: www.ksu.edu/eclipse.
