By Kathy Laird
Crawford County Now contributor
It was an entertaining and informative session at the Bucyrus Public Library on Saturday morning. Featured speaker was Don Everly from the Lowe Volk Astronomy Club. Everly took the audience on a lively tour of the solar system. Although the eclipse set for August 21 is touted at the “Eclipse of a Lifetime”, Everly advised the audience to keep April 8, 2024 open.
“That’s going to be another big one and it’s going to be completely visible right over Upper Sandusky” Everly said.
Everly shared with the audience some important facts about the upcoming eclipse. During this eclipse the cornea of the sun will be visible. It is very important when viewing this eclipse that it is done wearing protective eyewear. Susan Keller of the Bucyrus Public Library assured everyone that the glasses they received from the library are NASA approved. There are many brands that are not. The NASA approval code can be found on the upper left side of the viewing glasses. She encouraged everyone to check their glasses.
Crawford County is expected to be able to see about 85% of the eclipse and according to Everly it will be visible for all. At 1:05pm the moon will pass the sun and the best time to view the eclipse will be at 2:32pm. Everyly suggested you go outside about ten minutes before the eclipse and watch as Mother Nature prepares for the Eclipse.
“Birds will start nesting and chirping because they believe it is nighttime. Dogs will bark. You can watch for ripples of light to hit the ground just minutes before the eclipse occurs.”
Everly also suggested that you can place a thermometer in the ground and actually see the temperature drop. Everly also brought meteorites to show the audience and a special telescope to view the sun.
Everly’s Astronomy Club meets the fourth and fifth Saturdays of each month one hour before dark at the Lowe Volk Nature Center at 2401 St. Rt. 598 in Crestline. Participants don’t need a telescope to come out and enjoy the night skies.
The Lowe Volk Astronomy Club partners with The Warren Rupp Observatory in Mansfield. Rupp houses the largest Panel Telescope east of the Mississippi River that measures 36 inches across. They offer a lift that takes observers 18 feet in the air to look through the telescope. They especially enjoy it when the kids come out to see the planets and stars.
“Kids see colors much more vividly than older adults, so it’s nice to hear them describe the colors they see,” concluded Everly.