Sun Meets Moon

The UofA is home to one of the world's leading optical sciences programs and is famous for its telescopes. A logical mecca for astronomy buffs, the campus was the best place in town to catch a glimpse of a rare partial solar eclipse today.

 With multiple telescopes specially fitted with solar filters available to the public as well as astronomy experts on hand to explain the rare phenomenon it was amazing and the first time many had ever witnessed an eclipse. Through one of the more specialized telescopes outside the Flandrau Science Center you could even see sunspots and solar flares!

 For those preferring a simpler viewing method, solar eclipse glasses were on hand which were still good enough to make out the sunspots (near the center).

A simple low-tech alternative involves simply poking a small hole in a sheet of paper (or a tortilla, as I did) and holding it above another flat surface. This allows you to see the dark shadow from the moon cover up the bright spot from the sun.

Voila: A solar eclipse a la Mexican!