Special Eclipse Event To Be Held At West Chester University

WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester University will hold a special free event to commemorate the upcoming solar eclipse.

The event, organized by the school's Mather Planetarium, will take place at the South Campus "S" parking lot on Monday, April 8 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

“On the day of the eclipse, depending on where you are, if it’s cloudy the eclipse won’t be noticeable,” said Karen Schwarz, WCU professor of earth and space science and director of the Mather Planetarium. “If the weather is clear, the temperature may feel a little cooler than usual during the eclipse. Temperature changes will be more noticeable than light pattern changes.”

The first 750 attendees will get eclipse glasses. Telescopes will also be set up for viewing.

The moon is set to move in front of the sun in West Chester at 2:06 p.m. Monday. At 3:22 p.m., the sun will be 90 percent covered. The eclipse will end at 4:35 p.m.

The next total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States will be in 2044.

Parking is available at S lot on 850 South New Street, with additional free parking available in Q lot below Farrell Stadium on 855 South New Street.

Editor's note: a previous version of this story said that the event will be held at the planetarium. It will be held in S lot and the planetarium is organizing it.