Pasadena Institutions Offer Viewing Parties for Safely Watching Saturday’s Partial Solar Eclipse

Pasadena residents are in for a celestial spectacle that promises to inspire awe on Saturday, Oct. 14, when the skies of Pasadena and the American Southwest witness a partial solar eclipse. 

The moon will gracefully cast its shadow upon the sun, creating a breathtaking sight. According to TimeandDate.com, the eclipse will begin at 8:07 a.m. and reach its maximum at 9:24 a.m. 

Wherever you decide to watch the partial solar eclipse, remember to wear protective eyewear when viewing the eclipse. In an advisory, NASA said “During an annular eclipse, it is never safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection designed for solar viewing.” For more safety details, click here.

To make the most of this rare event, four prominent local institutions – Caltech, the Pasadena City College Observatory, the Pasadena Public Library, and The Planetary Society – are offering opportunities for eclipse watchers.

Caltech, renowned for its contributions to solar science, will host two rounds of one watch party at the Cahill Astronomy and Astrophysics Building and the adjacent athletic fields on campus. Attendees can enjoy two 30-minute presentations entitled “Understanding Solar Eclipses and Solar Research at Caltech” by Caltech astronomy graduate student Ivey Davis and Gabriel Muro, a Postdoctoral Scholar and Research Associate in Physics. 

For directions and more information, visit www.caltech.edu/campus-life-events/calendar/solar-eclipse-viewing-party-1.   

Meanwhile, the Pasadena City College Observatory is hosting a watch party with free admission and free solar glasses for attendees. This special Solar Eclipse Viewing Event will be at the PCC Observatory and Planetarium located at 1570 East Colorado Blvd. There will be free coffee and donuts, PCC said. The event is open and there’s no need to register. 

The Pasadena Public Library is also offering an opportunity to view the eclipse with free solar glasses available on a first-come-first-served basis. This will be between 8 and 11 a.m. at the Jefferson Branch Library Children & Teen Services Auditorium.  Guests can indulge in crafts and have light refreshments as they view the live stream of the event on a big screen. 

To sign up for this viewing party, visit https://pasadena.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=8798&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2023/10/06.  

The Planetary Society, in collaboration with The Eclipse Company, has introduced a comprehensive eclipse viewing map to ensure a unique experience for all eclipse enthusiasts. To see the map, visit www.planetary.org/press-releases/unique-eclipse-map.