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Join us to experience a total solar eclipse around 3:15 p.m. For several mesmerizing minutes, as the moon passes between the sun and Earth, Northeast Ohio will be cloaked in darkness during a moment of cosmic magic. Free eclipse viewing glasses will be available while supplies last.

This family-friendly event, designed to cater to the boundless curiosity of all ages, will also feature planetarium shows throughout the day.

Schedule of Events

Planetarium Shows
Show Times: 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Location: ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Planetarium, 108 Smith Hall
Embark on your own stargazing adventure and join us underneath our awe-inspiring 40-foot dome for any of our four planetarium shows taking place April 8 – the day of the total solar eclipse. Student guides will take guests on a captivating journey through space that explores the constellations and how to navigate the night sky. 

Lunar Lunch
Time: 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Location: Kent Student Center, Second Floor Dining Room
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alumni and their guests are invited to join us for a galactic grab ’n go lunch, complete with stellar cuisine and an amazing atmosphere to reconnect with their alma mater. Free eclipse viewing glasses will be distributed. This complimentary lunch, now SOLD OUT, will only be provided to the first 500 guests who registered and secured a gold ticket. 

Beyond the Eclipse: A Cosmic Conversation with Beth A. Cunningham, ’82, M.A. ’83, Ph.D. ’87
Time: 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
Location: Kent Student Center, Ballroom
Join Beth A. Cunningham, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø alumna and chief executive officer of the American Association of Physics Teachers, as she discusses the science and significance of a total solar eclipse. She’ll also delve into recent astronomical discoveries that have reshaped our understanding of the cosmos – from gravitational waves and the potential for life-sustaining atmospheres on distant planets to the groundbreaking insights brought to light by the James Webb Space Telescope. This presentation will also be livestreamed and recorded.

Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Party
Time: 2:45 – 3:45 p.m.
Location: Risman Plaza
Join us for the ultimate viewing party, where the sun, moon and Earth will align for a cosmic dance that will leave you breathless. Professor Veronica Dexheimer, Ph.D., Department of Physics, will provide scientific commentary to viewers and, at 3:15 p.m., the Kent Campus will be cloaked in total darkness for several mesmerizing minutes.