Education and
Public Engagement
at the Lunar and Planetary Institute
Eclipse Over Houston

The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), in partnership with Levy Park and the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library, is helping Houstonians experience the Eclipse over Houston on August 21, 2017.  On that day, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and sun, casting the Moon’s shadow on the continental U.S. from coast to coast for more than 90 minutes. This is the first total solar eclipse visible over the US since 1981 and the first since 1918 to be seen coast to coast.

Join scientists and educators from the LPI, and your community, at Levy Park and Freeman Library to witness this historical event you are sure to talk about for many years to come! At both locations, safe, solar viewing glasses will be available. **NEVER look directly at the sun without proper viewing equipment.**  


August 21, 2017
12:00pm – 2:00pm

Levy Park logo

Freeman Branch Library
16616 Diana Lane
Houston, TX 77062
View Map & Directions

LEVY Park Conservancy

3801 Eastside Street
Houston, TX 77098
View Map & Directions

 

Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017

Observers located in a narrow, 70 mile-wide path from Oregon to South Carolina will experience totality, the moment when the entire sun is obscured from view by the passing Moon. Credit: NASA

Solar eclipse

Partial solar eclipse (~66% ) as will be seen from Houston on August 21, 2017 at about 1:20pm local time.

How much of the sun will be obscured over Houston?
Observers in Texas, including Houston, will not see a total solar eclipse. However,  Houston will experience a partial solar eclipse, with about 66% of the sun being covered by the Moon. The 66% maximum eclipse of the sun as seen from Houston will occur about 1:20pm local time.

Can I look directly at the sun during the solar eclipse?
No. Please don’t. Human eyes are very sensitive to sunlight. Even a tiny sliver of the sun’s disk shining on you covers thousands of the light-sensitive cells in your eyes. Join LPI at Levy Park or the Freeman Branch Library and you will receive a pair of glasses you can wear to safely view the eclipse.

Visual and Literary Art Competition
Do you love science and have a creative side? Create art about solar eclipse science or how the eclipse impacts humanity! Winning artwork will be displayed during the August 21st solar eclipse events at Levy Park and the Harris County - Freeman Branch Library. Details  are available on the Eclipse Over Houston Art Competition page. For questions related to the art contest, please contact [email protected].

Sci Art logo

The Vanishing Sun: Eclipse Tales from Around the World
These multi-cultural eclipse folktales were recorded for a variety of ages and audiences by professional storytellers Cassandra Wye and Fran Stallings at the request of the Lunar and Planetary Institute.  Support for the eclipse stories was provided by the Institute for Science Exploration Targets at Southwest Research Institute.

For more information about LPI’s eclipse events in Houston, please contact Andy Shaner at 281-486-2163. For eclipse information, resources, and to find out about other eclipse events, please visit NASA's 2017 eclipse site.