OMSI hosts ‘Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing Party’

INCLUDES SUN-WATCHING PARTY VIDEO | This gathering shows that it doesn’t take a total solar eclipse to draw a crowd of hundreds to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry …

Long before the sky-show begins, folks from all over outer East Portland head to OMSI with hopes of viewing the partial solar eclipse.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Monday, April 8th, was a somewhat overcast Monday morning, with rain showers promised. But, the possibility of witnessing even a partial eclipse of the sun drew a crowd of hundreds to the front courtyard of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

To see how East Portland News covered the
total solar eclipse in 2017 at OMSI, CLICK HERE.

OMSI Director of Space Science Education Jim Todd provides safe viewing tips and information about this partial solar eclipse.

“While today there is a totality happening from Texas northeast to the East Coast, we here in Southeast Portland are part of this too – that is, we’ll see part of the shadow from the moon crossing the face of the earth,” Jim Todd, OMSI’s long-time Director of Space Science Education told East Portland News.

Watch our video highlights of this special event:

“Even though we’ll have only 23% of the eclipse, people want to enjoy that together here today,” Todd told us at the event.

“It’s rare, it won’t happen again for at least another decade,” he added.

Trifon Kupanoff and a little astronaut named James say they and their family came from beyond outer East Portland – actually, from Fairview – to attend the viewing party.

As the cloud cover briefly clears, viewers don their safety “solar sunglasses” to catch a glimpse of the partial eclipse.

In addition to the outside viewing, Todd noted that OMSI was hosting space science activities, a special educator talk, and the option to view the eclipse via NASA TV from the path of totality itself, inside in the Planetarium and Auditorium.

Todd also announced that the Gift Shop was selling approved safe “solar sunglasses” for $3 – far less than most retail outlets.

“This ‘viewing party’ is supporting the mission of OMSI, because it provides a rare ‘educational moment’ for everyone,” explained Todd. “As people come together and share the experience, we educate them, and help them understand what this is all about.”

As the partial eclipse becomes visible, the crowd oohs and aahs as they gaze through the safe-solar-viewing glasses.

Astrophotography enthusiast Cole Field took this photo of the partial solar eclipse for us OMSI using (as he explained) his Vaonis Hestia smartphone-based telescope, feeding into his Google Pixel 7.

As the time of the maximum eclipse at 11:25 a.m. neared, the clouds began to evaporate, allowing those with the safe “solar viewing sunglasses” to see the 4 minute and 27 second celestial event take place – before clouds returned and rain began to fall.

“Look at all these people here, happy, and learning about the sun and space,” Todd gestured. “Today’s a great celebration of the eclipse.”

To learn more about the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, see their official website: CLICK HERE.

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