There Goes the Sun: The Great Western Annular Eclipse 2023 Presentation

Join fellow alumni as we learn more about the upcoming Annular Solar Eclipse during this unique presentation Oct. 13!

Solar eclipses are relatively rare. For any solar eclipse to take place, it has to be around the New Moon, when the Sun and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Moon. On Oct. 14, 2023, portions of western North America will experience an annular solar eclipse when the Moon, at its farthest distance from Earth (apogee), passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon partially blocks the Sun resulting in a Ring of Fire eclipse. 

To see the Ring of Fire, you must be in a location where the Moon casts its antumbra shadow - typically a path about 93 miles wide. The Oct. 14, 2023 eclipse antumbra will pass over about one third of Oregon in a line between Coos Bay and Chicken Hills, and Lincoln City to Pigeon-toe-Lake. The eclipse transitions will begin about 8:00 a.m. and end about 10:40 a.m. Annularity (Ring of Fire) will begin about 9:15 a.m. and last between one to four minutes depending on your location. The Annular Solar Eclipse is cost-free, and for many of us a-once-in-a-lifetime event. To view an annular eclipse safely, you must wear eclipse glasses the entire time - you cannot remove your eye protection anytime during the eclipse without risking blindness. 

There Goes the Sun Presentation
Friday, Oct. 13
7:30 p.m. PT
Learning Innovation Center (LinC) Room 128, Oregon State campus

Admission is free and seating is first-come, first-served. Registration for this event will help us to best prepare for your experience.

About the presenter: Randall L. Milstein has been a faculty member at Oregon State University since 1990. He teaches astronomy and energy alternatives in the OSU Physics Department, and numerous courses in the OSU University Honors College. From 2016-22, Milstein was Astronomer-in-Residence to the Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium and is currently OSU's representative to OSGC. His research interests include astrogeology, impact-cratering dynamics and archaeo-astronomy. Milstein is a regular outreach speaker and enjoys engaging with the public on topics of science, astronomy and the roll of science fiction in popular culture.

Photo credit: Phillip Jones/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images 

*Dates, times and other details for in-person events are subject to change.

Photos and videos from this event may be used in Oregon State University promotional materials. By attending this event, you consent to have your photo taken and appear in videos and allow use of these photographs and videos by OSU, the Foundation or the Alumni Association for promotional purposes.