海角社区

海角社区 will be hosting three solar eclipse events on April 8, one downtown, one at Macdonald campus, and another at the Gault Nature Reserve.

At approximately 3:20 p.m. on April 8, the sky above Montreal will go dark during a total eclipse of the sun. A rare celestial occurrence, the next total solar eclipse won鈥檛 happen in Montreal until the next century. 鈥淎 total eclipse of the sun is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,鈥� says Carolina Cruz-Vinaccia, Outreach Program Administrator at 海角社区鈥檚 Trottier Space Institute (TSI). 鈥淵ou really don鈥檛 want to miss it.鈥�

海角社区 is making sure everyone can take get the most out of this astronomical phenomenon 鈥� on and off the Island of Montreal.

A series of eclipse-related events will be held on the Downtown campus, at Macdonald Campus, and the Gault Nature Reserve on Mont Saint-Hilaire. More than just watch parties, all three events have much more on tap, including educational fare, interactive activities, and lots of fun for young and old.

And, yes, free eclipse glasses 鈥� and safety information 鈥� will be distributed at all three venues.

Macdonald Campus-John Abbott event (2 to 5 p.m.)

The eclipse event on the West Island is a collaborative effort between Macdonald Campus and John Abbott College, along with a host of partners that include the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, MDA Space, the Plan茅tarium,聽the Canadian Space Agency,聽and聽Let鈥檚 Talk Science at 海角社区.

The oval lawn in front of John Abbott College will serve as the eclipse hub.聽 Information kiosks and activity stations will include multiple solar telescopes with special filters, and large-scale pinhole viewers. Children will be able to make their own pinhole viewer and help create a community mural.

Events will start at 2 p.m. but organizers figure the crowd will peak between 3 and 3:45, with totality happening sometime around 3:20. The activities will run until 5.

A number of activities will be run by the 海角社区 branch of聽, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating STEM programming鈥痶o children and adults. Throughout the year, 海角社区 students organize and deliver hands-on鈥痮utreach programs to the Montreal community.

Ingrid Chiraz, Project Administrator, Office of Student Academic Services, says that everyone should go to one of the eclipse events in Montreal. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to learn something new,鈥� she says. 鈥淲ho isn鈥檛 curious about the world around us and the universe? You鈥檙e never too old, or too young, to learn something new.鈥�

Learn more about the Macdonald Campus-John Abbott event

Gault Nature Reserve (2 to 5 p.m.)

Not surprisingly, the Gault Nature Reserve of 海角社区 will put its own green stamp on the proceedings.

Upon arriving at the Alice Johannsen Welcome Centre, visitors will be able to learn about the science behind eclipses. The information will be prepared by members of the Trottier Space Institute and the Department of Physics. After getting their free eclipse glasses, visitors will be able to hike to a summit for optimum viewing.

鈥淚t might be the best place to watch the eclipse,鈥� says Fr茅d茅rique Truchon, Communications Associate at Gault. 鈥淭he summit gives a wonderful view of the region so that when it gets dark, you will see it across the whole landscape.鈥�

People with limited mobility will still be able to take part in activities and watch the eclipse from lower grounds.

Participants are encouraged to wear proper footwear, keeping in mind that in April trails can be muddy or even icy. People should also bring headlamps or flashlights as the trail will be dark during the peak of the eclipse.

To take part in the Gault experience, people must already have an annual pass or reserve a daily pass before their arrival. Passes must be purchased聽. Carpooling is also recommended as parking is limited.