Sharing an astronomical moment together
An estimated 6,000 people gathered on Tindall Field and other vantage points across Queenās campus to share in the wonder of a total solar eclipse at 3:22 p.m. on Monday, April 8.
For months prior to the rare celestial phenomenon, the university and local partners were engaged in planning and preparation to ensure the community was ready for a safe and educational eclipse experience.
In the months leading up to the eclipse, an outreach and education campaign was conducted by a group of 70 campus community volunteers recruited by the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy, utilizing the expertise of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and staff.
Due to their efforts, the Queenās and Kingston communities were ready for the big day.
āOn Tindall Field, we were able to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with thousands of people, and the roar of cheers that went up at totality is going to be one of my lifelong memories,ā says Rob Knobel, Head of the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy, who helped lead the universityās preparations for the eclipse. āI'm so proud of the team of Queenās Eclipse Ambassadors who spread out to 20 sites across the city and region, giving the same experience to visitors and residents alike.ā
Queenās sourced 120,000 pairs of eclipse glasses, providing them free to campus community members and donating over 80,000 to local school boards and to people across the Kingston region for pick up at local public libraries.
Team members also visited more than 80 schools in the Limestone District School Board and Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, teaching students about eclipses, including why they happen and how they have helped researchers advance the understanding of light, as well as how to view the eclipse safely.
āIt was wonderful to have the support of the whole ¾ÅŠćÖ±²„ community, who have been planning for this day for over a year ā a collaborative effort that made our educational efforts and the viewing a tremendous success,ā Dr. Knobel added.
To learn more about the preparations and research conducted by Queenās experts, visit the Queenās Total Solar Eclipse website.
Note: This story originally appeared in the ¾ÅŠćÖ±²„ Gazette.