Our astronomy experts discuss what incredible events can be observed and the treasured memories that can still be made on April 8
- What: Total Solar Eclipse Viewing Event
- Fear not, Houston, we won’t let an overcast sky ruin our eclipse engagements on April 8. Even with the chance of rain or clouds, there’s still drama to unfold. HMNS Astronomers Dr. Carolyn Sumners and James Wooten discuss how this phenomenon will still cause a drastic dimming of daylight hours, a distinct drop in temperature, and (fingers crossed) even a thinning of cloud cover due to any pauses in rain or cooler air. So, even if we can’t see the celestial showdown above, don’t give up on looking up!
At HMNS Hermann Park and HMNS at Sugar Land, we’ve got you covered to safely enjoy this spectacle with crafts and activities (including discounted admission to “Totality Over Texas” and free totality briefings from Bandera, TX in the Burke Baker Planetarium at HMNS Hermann Park), solar telescopes, astronomers on hand to answer questions, and a cosmic point in time tied to us all.
HMNS will be live streaming the totality across all of our social media accounts. Visit the museum website to stay up to date on information related to the eclipse and HMNS events.
- Fear not, Houston, we won’t let an overcast sky ruin our eclipse engagements on April 8. Even with the chance of rain or clouds, there’s still drama to unfold. HMNS Astronomers Dr. Carolyn Sumners and James Wooten discuss how this phenomenon will still cause a drastic dimming of daylight hours, a distinct drop in temperature, and (fingers crossed) even a thinning of cloud cover due to any pauses in rain or cooler air. So, even if we can’t see the celestial showdown above, don’t give up on looking up!
- When: 10:30am at HMNS Hermann Park; 10am at HMNS at Sugar Land; Monday, April 8 (and continuing until eclipse ends)
- 12:20pm: Eclipse begins – sun begins to take on a crescent shape.
- 1:40pm: Maximum coverage – only a small sliver of sun is visible.
- 3:01pm: Eclipse finishes – sun returns to a fully visible circle
- Who:
- Chris Ferguson, Planetarium/Expedition Center Operator (available for interviews on April 8 at HMNS Hermann Park)
- Hannah Lange, Program Manager for George Observatory (available for interviews on April 8 at HMNS at Sugar Land)
- Where:
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
5555 Hermann Park Dr, Houston, TX 77030
(Front plaza/sundial and Burke Baker Planetarium – limited parking spots in garage are reserved for press on a first-come, first-served basis. Please alert HMNS staff upon entry.) - Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land
13016 University Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Why:
- “We’ll still be tied to a moment in time,” says Dr. Sumners. “Life is all about making memories, and this is going to be a memory no matter what the weather is.”
For questions, please contact Sami Mesarwi at smesarwi@hmns.org or (281) 684-0430.
About Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science—one of the nation’s most heavily attended museums—is a centerpiece of the Houston Museum District. With four floors of permanent exhibit halls, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre, Cockrell Butterfly Center, Burke Baker Planetarium and George Observatory and as host to world-class and ever-changing touring exhibitions, the Museum has something to delight every age group. With such diverse and extraordinary offerings, a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, located at 5555 Hermann Park Drive in the heart of the Museum District, is always an adventure.
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