The 1994 Annular Eclipse. Photo provided by Warsaw Astronomical Society President Kurt Eberhardt.

By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

NORTH WEBSTER — Several libraries in Kosciusko County are preparing for the solar eclipse on April 8.

What Causes An Eclipse

According to Warsaw Astronomical Society President Kurt Eberhardt, “the sun is about 400 times larger than the moon and about 400 times farther away from the Earth than is the moon. This makes the sun and moon appear about the same size in the sky.”

“When the sun, moon and Earth line up such that the moon’s shadow falls on the Earth, you get a solar eclipse,” said Eberhardt. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon is closer in orbit to the Earth, such as on April 8.

“You must be in the path of the complete shadow to see totality; otherwise, you see a partial or no eclipse at all,” said Eberhardt. “Kosciusko County is not in that path so will see a little over 98% of the sun covered.”

Eberhardt said the last eclipse visible in Kosciusko County was Oct. 14, 2023. Other previous dates include June 10, 2021. The last total eclipse in Kosciusko County, according to Eberhardt, was in 1806.

North Webster Public Library

According to North Webster Public Library’s Public Services Manager Amanda Demster, events are already underway at the NWPL. According to Demster, North Webster will see a 90% totality.

One event the library hosted was having patrons make protective sleeves for glasses, with a teen event Wednesday, March 20.  On March 23, NWPL had a rescheduled eclipse apprentice training from the Eclipse Soundscapes Project, a NASA Citizen Science project partner, according to Eclipse Soundscapes’ website.

“There was a study done during an eclipse back in the (1930s) that observed what nature does during a solar eclipse,” Demster said. She added that projects such as Eclipse Soundscape are hoping to replicate the experiment. Eclipse Soundscape includes citizen science.

“Citizen science is where everyday people are encouraged to get out into nature and to collect and submit data for scientific study,” Demster said.

The apprenticeship training introduced people to Eclipse Soundscape’s program and why data is collected, Demster said. Patrons who participated received a certificate at the end and can continue with observer training at home or at the library.

NWPL staff pose with solar viewing glasses, pinhole viewers and the library’s official 2024 eclipse photo backdrop. From left are Amy Dennis, Izzy Espinoza and Amanda Demster; center, Anna Jackson. Photo provided by the NWPL.

NWPL will also host two sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, to make recycled pinhole viewers. Another future craft includes making solar powered s’more ovens, with pizza boxes donated by Bourbon Street Pizza.

“Believe it or not, it works,” Demster said. “We did it in the fall leading up to the annular eclipse.”

NWPL have events on April 8, the day of the eclipse. A live feed from NASA in the totality zone will play in the library’s meeting rooms. Space-themed snacks will also be available. Crafts on the day of the eclipse include color-changing beads to make bracelets and taking photos with a photo booth.

Patrons can also conduct experiments inside and outside. Demster said the library has ordered equipment for experiments, such as an anemometer to measure wind speed.

The library also purchased an AudioMoth from Eclipse Soundscape. The AudioMoth will be attached to a tree, Demster said, and record nature sounds two days before and after the eclipse. Afterward, the library will submit the card to Eclipse Soundscape for analysis.

Free eclipse glasses are available for patrons who participate in eclipse-themed programming and events, Demster said. A limited number of eclipse glasses will be available at the front desk “one pair per person, on a first come, first served basis,” Demster said, from 10 a.m. Monday, April 1, to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6.

Demster encouraged people to register for events ahead of time, so the library knows how many supplies are needed. Registration is recommended, but not required, for events on April 8. The library’s Eclipse Viewing Party will be held from 1:45-4:15 p.m. April 8, according to Visit Kosciusko County.

Warsaw Community Public Library

The Warsaw Community Public Library will be handing out glasses and hosting several eclipse-themed events, said WCPL Marketing Director Robin Fosnaugh.

“We were trying to throw some educational elements into the upcoming eclipse, and to incorporate those into programs that were coming up,” said Fosnaugh.

At 6 p.m. Monday, April 1, the Evening Story Time will have a space theme.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, family activity stations will include a space eclipse-themed station.

From 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 5, and 10:30 a.m to noon Saturday, April 6, WCPL’s Library Lego sessions will have a challenge to build a rocket.

Fosnaugh said the library will be passing out glasses while supplies last.

Where To Get Glasses

Several libraries will be handing out glasses.

Pierceton Public Library said they will hand out one pair of eclipse glasses per patron while supplies last.

Milford Library Director Julie Frew said the Milford Public Library will hand out two pairs per family from April 1-8 to patrons with a library card, while supplies last.

Glasses can also be purchased from the Indiana Department of Natural Resource’s website. The DNR in a press release stated the glasses, which have the state’s eclipse logo, were purchased from a vendor on the the American Astronomical Society’s approved vendor list.

Single glasses can be purchased for $3 and packs of four glasses are $10, plus shipping and handling at ShopINStateParks.com, or at any Indiana State Park gift shop.

Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Public Library Communications Specialist Sarah Wright said the library was unable to get any eclipse glasses this year. The library will be passing out solar eclipse-themed activity sheets for children, which can be picked up in the children’s department.

Safe Viewing

Eberhardt, who has seen 13 eclipses, partial, annular and total, offered some suggestions for safely viewing an eclipse.

“There are no pain sensors in the back of the eye,” Eberhardt said. “Looking at the sun incorrectly can cause permanent damage before you even know it. Never look at the sun without the proper protection.”

Eberhardt recommended not to use cardboard solar glasses to view the sun through anything that magnifies, such as binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses; they can be placed in front of glasses. He also recommended checking the glasses are certified, and that if children are using them, to ensure they are using them correctly.

“Another safe way to view the eclipse is to use pinhole projection, just don’t look through the pinhole,” Eberhardt said. “If you are going to use binoculars or a telescope, make sure you have the proper solar filter and that it fits securely onto the front. Remove or cover any finder scopes so as not to get burned.”

The next total solar eclipses in the US will occur in 2044 and 2045, Eberhardt said, and the next in Indiana will be in 2099.

According to the American Astronomical Society, eclipse glasses are recommended to meet the standards set by the American National Standards Institute or International Organization for Standardization. The American Astronomical Society offers resources on safely viewing an eclipse at eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety, along with a vendor list of safe solar viewing equipment at eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/viewers-filters.