'Great American solar eclipse' is topic of Penn State Mont Alto Evening Talk

Total solar eclipse of March 20, 2015 by Damien Deltenre (licensed for free use).

Total solar eclipse of March 20, 2015, by Damien Deltenre (licensed for free use).

Credit: Damien Deltenre

MONT ALTO, Pa. — On Feb. 23, Penn State Mont Alto will host an “Evening Talk and Star Party” from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. (doors open at 7:15 p.m.) in the General Studies Auditorium. Kimberly Herrmann, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, will present “The Great American Solar Eclipse." Light refreshments will be provided.

Following the talk and weather permitting, Herrmann will also lead a star party in the field behind the Multipurpose Activities Center (MAC) from 8:30 to 10 p.m. The presentation and star party are free of charge and open to the public.

During her talk, Herrmann will describe the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, which will sweep across the United States. The next total solar eclipse won’t occur until April 8, 2024. She will also include safe ways to observe the eclipse and the differences between total and annular eclipses.

Telescope viewing and night sky tours with green laser pointers will be included in the star party. Multiple telescopes should be available, courtesy of the TriState Astronomers (tristateastronomers.org), a local amateur astronomy club.

If the weather does not cooperate for viewing, Herrmann will host an “Ask an Astronomer” session in the Wiestling Student Center.

Save the date and watch for more information about the next Evening Talk and Star Party on March 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the General Studies Auditorium, when David Seitz, Penn State Mont Alto assistant professor of communications, will present "Ethos: Why Character Matters."

For more information, contact Debra Collins, director of public relations and marketing, at 717-749-6112 or email [email protected]