Monroe, MI – The Monroe County Museum System will host a series of educational activities on the solar eclipse throughout the month of March at the Museum.
The solar eclipse will occur on April 8th, and the southeastern corner of Monroe County is the only place in Michigan where the path of totality (100% obscuration) will occur. The last time the Lower Peninsula experienced a total eclipse was June 16, 1806, and the next total eclipse in Michigan won’t happen until September 14, 2099.
All are welcome to join museum staff on Saturdays in March from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM for YesterWays, where participants will learn how to make and use a pinhole shadow box viewer to safely observe the eclipse. Simple pinhole cameras are a basic type of camera obscura, which is Latin for “dark chamber.” They are considered an early form of the modern camera, and were used as astronomical tools, drawing aids, and even for entertainment purposes.
In addition, from Monday, March 25 through Thursday, March 28, the pinhole shadow box camera activity will be open from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Participants can expect one-on-one instruction from museum staff, and plenty of fun facts about our solar system.
Eclipse viewing glasses are available at no cost for individual use at the County Museum until supplies run out. Please limit one per person, per household. A limited supply of educational resources for teachers and group leaders is also available on a first-come-first-served basis.
MCMS reminds everyone to exercise safety when viewing the eclipse, as the intense ultraviolet and infrared rays require specialized eye protection for safe viewing. For more information, visit https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/
The Monroe County Museum is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and as always, admission and activities are free and open to the public.
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