Physics department hosts Oct. 23 viewing of partial solar eclipse at stadium press box

Faculty members from the physics department at North Central College invite students, faculty and staff to join a viewing of Thursday’s Oct. 23 partial solar eclipse, weather permitting.

The viewing will take place from 4 p.m. until sunset Thursday, Oct. 23, in the press box on the fourth floor of Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, 455 S. Brainard St., Naperville. The event will be canceled if it is overcast.

“We’ll view the eclipse through appropriate solar-filtered binoculars and possibly through one or more digital cameras,” says Paul Bloom, associate professor of physics at North Central College.

Space in the press box is limited; RSVPs to Julie Dumler, secretary to departments of biology, chemistry and physics, undergraduate research and Division of Science, are appreciated at jdumler@noctrl.edu.

Thursday’s partial solar eclipse is expected to be visible across nearly all of North America. Precautions should be taken to protect eyes from solar rays, and viewers should not stare directly at the sun. Local circumstances and eclipse times for the United States may be found at http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2014-Tab05.pdf.