The SJAA will hold a viewing event for the August 2017 eclipse and everyone is welcome.
| Date: | Monday August 21, 2017 |
| Time: | 9am to noon (Peak eclipse at 10:15) |
| Place: | Houge Park, San Jose |
Please let us know if you are joining us by RSVPing on this Meetup invite and do not forget to bring your solar glasses! (SJAA cannot provide solar glasses).
Please park on the street unless you have small children or are bringing equipment.
[We’re anticipating a VERY large crowd. Also we’d like to minimize any disruption to the school next to the Houge Park parking lot.]
This will be a cross-country Total Solar Eclipse stretching from Oregon to South Carolina (As shown in the map. Find a friend or relative to stay with??), with a partial eclipse visible from the entire continental US.
Path of the Total Solar Eclipse across the continental USA
Here in San Jose we’ll see a 75% eclipse. (For any partial eclipse, you will NEED Solar Glasses constantly!).
The following NASA map shows the path of totality and degree of the eclipse by location:
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2017Aug21T.GIF
The following are a few good resources on this eclipse:
- Good over-all web info: http://www.eclipse2017.org
- NASA official website: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov
- More info by NASA: https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html
- Viewing a Solar Eclipse by Rob Hawley: https://youtu.be/pLmSS3jw50g
- Interactive Google Map by Xavier Jubier: Solar Eclipse 2017
If you can’t join us at Houge Park, you can still enjoy viewing the Solar eclipse and you won’t need an expensive telescope. You can purchase solar glasses and relatively inexpensive solar filters for cameras and binoculars. Note: we expect a great demand for these items, so be sure to order early!
The following are two companies (among many) that sell solar filters. The SJAA is not affiliated with either firm, but we have previously purchased products from these companies.
- https://www.rainbowsymphony.com
- http://www.thousandoaksoptical.com/solar.html
- Orion Telescope Store in Cupertino will also have some for sale, early. Call 408-255-8770. (Update: Sadly, Orion Telescopes closed their Cupertino store during the pandemic.)
Please remember: Viewing the sun directly WILL injure your eyes. View the eclipse only with a proper filter!!
Note to teachers: We invite all area science teachers to join us for our monthly solar observing events to help you prepare for the event. For times see our Upcoming Events section or the Calendar of Events