Arkansas Tech University will provide opportunities for students, faculty, staff and community members to prepare for and experience the April 8 total solar eclipse with a series of events and activities.
Among the highlights will be an eclipse preview presentation by NASA representatives, astronomers from France who are visiting ATU for the eclipse and a representative from the Arkansas Air National Guard. Their panel discussion will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in Witherspoon Auditorium, 407 West Q Street on the ATU campus in Russellville.
The general public is invited to the 1 p.m. event on April 4. Admission will be free and open to the public.
Representatives from NASA will be available on the Hindsman Tower lawn from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, April 4. They will have table displays and will be prepared to talk about the science behind the eclipse.
There will be a presentation for ATU students about STEM career opportunities at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 4, in the Hull Building Student Union.
Additional activities designed specifically for ATU students, faculty and staff are also planned for the days leading up to the eclipse.
Eclipse glasses for ATU students, faculty and staff are available for pick-up at the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center first floor research help desk. One pair of glasses per person will be provided free of charge to ATU students, faculty and staff with a valid ATU identification card.
ATU students are invited to a blacklight party in the Hull Building Student Union beginning at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 28. The event will include an opportunity to acquire a free pair of eclipse glasses and learn more about the forthcoming eclipse.
The ATU College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics will provide planetarium demonstrations outside the Hull Building Student Union weekdays from Friday, March 29, through Wednesday, April 3. Exact times for the planetarium demonstrations will be announced as they become available.
As the time for the total solar eclipse draws near on Monday, April 8, ATU students, faculty and staff are invited to congregate near Doc Bryan Student Services Center and Tucker Coliseum to experience the eclipse as a university community.
ATU in Russellville and Ozark will be open until noon on Friday, April 5. Classes and operations will move to virtual for the afternoon on Friday, April 5, and all day on Monday, April 8, and Tuesday, April 9.
On-campus parking spaces are available for ATU guests to rent for the eclipse event. Details are available at www.atu.edu/eclipse.
Individuals with a valid ATU parking hangtag are not required to pay anything additional to access campus and park on campus during the eclipse event.
Additional details concerning ATU’s eclipse preparations are available at www.atu.edu/eclipse.
