Virginia Tech as well as state parks in the New River Valley and the greater region are offering events leading up to the April 8 solar eclipse as well as viewing opportunities that day.
It will be the last solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States until 2044.
Virginia Tech’s watch event will be on the Drillfield starting at 2:30 p.m. that day.
Claytor Lake State Park will host an information session about what people can expect when viewing the eclipse and a pinhole-making craft events on April 6. The information session is from 2 to 3 p.m. and the pinhole event — to be used to let viewers be able to see the eclipse — is scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. Both events will be held at the Interpretive Campfire Circle in Campground D.
State parks in the region will host eclipse watch events on April 8.
Claytor Lake, New River Trail and Smith Mountain Lake state parks will host host viewing events on April 8. Claytor Lake — which will also hold another pinhole-making event that day from 1 to 2 p.m. — will hold both events on April 8 at the beach building. Claytor’s watch event starts at 2 p.m.
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New River Trail will hold its watch event starting at 1:30 p.m. at Shelter 1 in the Foster Falls playground and picnic area, 116 Orphanage Dr., Max Meadows.
Smith Mountain Lake’s event is set to start at 2 p.m. at the Discovery Center Pavilion.
The eclipse will begin at Claytor Lake at 1:55 p.m., with the peak at 3:12 p.m. and with an end at 4:27 p.m. The obscurity will be 86.5%.
At New River Trail, the eclipse will begin at 1:54 p.m., will peak at 3:13 p.m. and end at 4:28 p.m. The obscurity will be 86.2%.
At Smith Mountain Lake, the eclipse will begin at 1:57 p.m., peak at 3:15 p.m. and end at 4:29 p.m. The obscurity will be at 84.7%.
To learn more about the solar eclipse events being offered through April 8, go to dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse.
What visitors will see during the solar eclipse depends on the weather and the park’s location. Many parks, especially those in Southwest Virginia, are expected to experience more than 85 percent sun obscurity, with Wilderness Road experiencing 90 percent.
Those who participate should use proper eye protection. The only safe way to view a solar eclipse is through specially-designed solar filters or eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard.
Solar filters for cameras and telescopes should be used as well.
Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and arrive early, as parking and viewing areas may fill up quickly. To ensure guests can view the eclipse safely, parks will have a limited number of solar viewing glasses available for purchase. They cost $1 plus tax and will be located in parks’ visitor centers and gift shops, according to state park news release.
– The Roanoke Times
