Partial Solar Eclipse Open House
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking some or all of the Sun’s light from reaching our planet. During this partial solar eclipse, the Moon will pass across a portion of the Sun’s disk, creating the appearance that a small “bite” has been taken out of our nearest star.
From Nantucket, we will experience a partial eclipse, with approximately 16% of the Sun’s disk obscured at the peak of the event. While we are not located along the path of totality, even a small partial eclipse offers a fascinating opportunity to witness the motions of our solar system in real time.
The eclipse will begin at approximately 1:05pm reach maximum eclipse around 1:58pm and conclude at approximately 2:49pm.
Visitors are welcome to stop by Loines Observatory between 1pm and 3pm to safely view the eclipse through the Maria Mitchell Association’s solar viewing equipment, including our solar telescope and other approved solar viewing tools. Our astronomers and educators will be available to answer questions, share eclipse science, and help visitors better understand this unique celestial event.
This free program is designed for curious minds of all ages and is a wonderful opportunity for families, visitors, and astronomy enthusiasts to experience a rare astronomical event together from Nantucket.
Pre-registration is recommended for this program as space is limited. In the event of inclement weather (overcast or raining), this program will be cancelled and participants notified.
**Note – it is never safe to look directly at the Sun, even during an eclipse.**
Cost Per Participant: free
Contact email: programs@mariamitchell.org
Cancellation and Refund Policy: We understand that plans change! Because we are a small non-profit that benefits from the contributions made by our generous patrons and supporters, cancellations make it more challenging for us to manage program enrollment. Tickets are non-refundable, should you choose to cancel. However, tickets are eligible for an exchange before the date and time of the scheduled program subject to a $5 rescheduling service fee, per reservation, and program availability. If you wish to reschedule, please contact us at info@mariamitchell.org.
In the event of a complete event or program cancellation by us ticket-holders will receive a ticket exchange or refund. Requests for exchanges or refunds must be made in writing, and received, no more than seven days from the date printed on the ticket. Rescheduling is not guaranteed and is based on current availability. No refund or credit will be given if the ticket holder requests a time that is unavailable for any reason.
All offerings are subject to cancellation by the MMA at any time, with or without notice for reasons deemed necessary by the organization. In the event of a cancellation by us, we will make every effort to provide a ticket exchange at an amenable date and time to both parties and if we cannot, we will refund the purchase and credit the original payment method.