Look up at the sky on April 8 and witness the spectacular meet-up between the sun and the moon, but make sure to do this safely with solar viewers. According to the libraries’ research guides, the eclipse is predicted to start at 12:19 p.m. in College Station and end at 3 p.m. The maximum eclipse will occur at 1:39 p.m. with the sun’s surface 98.61 percent obscured. 

This is Texas’ second visible eclipse in under six months following the Libraries’ October Aggie eclipse event. for students to gather with the Libraries and witness this celestial spectacle. 

Under the leadership of Jessica Simpson, the Research and Scholarly Initiatives librarian at A&M, the Libraries have been handing out solar eclipse viewers all week. Janina Besa Siebert, Class of 1999, a library staff member in Learning and Engagement, and Jilian Eslami, the outreach coordinator, have joined forces with Simpson to form the ‘J cubed’ team. They aim to raise students’ excitement for the upcoming solar eclipse. 

“We are nearly in the crosshairs of a dual event, and something like that just can’t be ignored,” Simpson said. “It helps students understand that there is a safety issue and a concern about looking at the sun during an eclipse.” 

The library team is working diligently to promote safety with licensed glasses and ensure students are well-informed about the event.

“We want to be the hub, so if y’all have questions, ‘Oh, what’s happening in the sky, where can I go?’ We want you to come to the libraries and ask us,” Siebert said. “The library’s website is a go-to for information students may seek. Wherever you are for this total eclipse, that’s an online resource you can use at your house, on campus, or at this center point of the total eclipse.” 

There are misconceptions about the safety of viewing the solar eclipse.  The event has the potential to damage eyes if viewed directly.  Solar viewers also have an expiration date.