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The question of the week at PCL has been, “Can I get a pair of those solar eclipse glasses?” Last Monday morning, we had 150 pairs left from the original 200 we had on hand. Before we closed on that same day, all glasses were gone. They are, in fact, gone from most sources across the country!
What can you do? When I was child, a popular school activity was to make a pinhole viewer. This is a safe, easy way to see the eclipse, and it’s fun to do with your kids, as well. NASA provides instructions on making one from a cereal box at this link.
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Solar eclipses are actually quite common. They happen at least twice a year. What is so special about THIS particular eclipse that is being called the Great American Eclipse? This one will occur over populated areas across the U.S. and will be, in some places, a total covering of the sun by the moon.
Aside from the sheer excitement of darkness during the day, this is an opportunity for scientists to test instruments and equipment on the ground that they may want to use in space some day. It also gives researchers a chance to examine the sun’s corona, the gaseous “crown” around the sun. For most of us, however, as day turns into night, the eclipse will not be a phenomenon of astronomy, but one of rare beauty and wonder.
Interesting phenomenon occur frequently here at PCL when you join us for one of our not-so-rare, but exciting programs.
Teens and pre-teens are invited Monday, August 21, at 7 p.m. to make their own lip balm with Morgan Kelsey, owner of Invoke (formerly The Brewer’s Wife). There is no fee, but please call to let us know you are coming so we may plan!
Families are invited on Tuesday, August 22 at 10 a.m. for a DIY Book Hunt in the library. Come on in and ask yourself Dewey or Dewey not know where to find what at PCL!
Calling all would-be thespians for our Reader’s Theater! Come for a fun, no pressure evening of “read from a script” acting on Thursday, August 24 at 7 p.m. with Penny Campo-Pierce. No costumes or training necessary. Call to let us know you are coming!
Love You, Mr. Randy! Come bid a fond farewell to our beloved custodian, Randy Learmonth, on Wednesday, August 30, at 3 p.m. Enjoy punch and a slice of cake as we wish him HAPPY RETIREMENT!
The eclipse starts at 1 p.m. on Monday, August 21, and ends about 3:39 p.m. The moon at the eclipse’s peak will obscure over 80 percent of the sun here in Traverse City. Whatever you do, be sure NOT to look with your bare eyes. The sun can cause permanent damage, even blindness, to your eye’s retina.
If you’re lucky enough to have obtained viewing glasses, make sure they are NASA approved. If you obtained them at the library, they ARE NASA approved! Other options include viewing with the old fashioned pin hole viewer OR watching NASA’s live stream beginning at 1 p.m. EDT. A pre-show starts at 12 p.m. Check that out right here.
You’re also welcome to stop by PCL, where we’ll have it up on the big screen for you! Enjoy snacking on a Moon Pie while you watch!
Love you to the moon and back, ’cause you are all my sunshine!
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SUPPORT YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper.
Because Old Mission Gazette is a "Reader Supported Newspaper" -- meaning it exists because of your financial support -- I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks our way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. In a time when local news is becoming a thing of the past, supporting an independent community newspaper is more important now than ever. Thank you so much for your support! -Jane Boursaw, Editor/Publisher, Old Mission Gazette
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