Solar eclipse is coming. Learn all about the path and more with these special programs

Damon C. Williams, Bucks County Courier Times
Updated ·5 min read

Millions of Americans, including most Pennsylvanians, are about to find themselves in the path of a total solar eclipse that will shroud a lengthy swath of the nation in temporary darkness as it makes its way across the continent.

The solar eclipse is expected to be viewable on Monday, April 8.

Some groups are holding educational seminars leading up to the solar eclipse, and other are forming observation parties.

Here are the ones we know about so far so you can plan your eclipse viewing:

Bucks County Free Library to livestream solar eclipse; hosting observation party at two campuses

The Bucks County Free Library will host an observation party at its Levittown campus and will livestream the solar eclipse from its Yardley campus.

"Join us at the library to celebrate the solar eclipse event with crafts and activities for children," read a portion of the eclipse party invite from the free library. "Attendees will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses (while supplies last) to view the solar eclipse!"

The watch party begins at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8, at the Levittown branch, 7311 New Falls Road.

The Bucks County Free Library will also livestream NASA's live broadcast of the solar eclipse from its Yardley campus, 1080 Edgewood Road.

"Join us for a NASA broadcast of the 2024 total solar eclipse," read the invite. "Watch telescope live feeds of the total solar eclipse across the path and grab your eclipse glasses (while supplies last) to view the actual solar eclipse with us at it's maximum coverage around 3:20pm. ln Bucks County, we will see about 90% of the sun covered by the eclipse."

Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association offers solar eclipse education

The Bucks-Mont Astronomical Association is hosting a series of solar eclipse educational sessions at libraries throughout the region.

"Today is the beginning of our Eclipse programs this month at local libraries in the Bucks-Mont area. We will be providing a fun interactive afternoon of demos and discussions all about the upcoming Solar Eclipse on April 8th," read a portion of the group's Facebook post. "We'll show what solar eclipses are and why they happen.

"We'll also cover some different ways you can safely view the eclipse right here in the Philadelphia region. Register through the library websites."

The solar eclipse educational sessions will occur on the following dates:

Solar eclipse 2024 primer: Where and how to observe the solar eclipse in April. Will it be viewable in Bucks County?

'All About Eclipses' at Grundy Memorial Library

Dr. Jacob H. Hamer, the assistant curator of planetarium education at the New Jersey State Museum, will give a presentation on solar eclipses at 6:30 p.m. on Wed., March 16 at the Grundy Memorial Library, 680 Radcliffe Street, Bristol.

Hamer will touch on the following topics: the history of man’s understanding of eclipses; how people have been able to accurately predict eclipses for hundreds or even thousands of years; why eclipses happen (and why they don’t happen every month); why eclipses are interesting to astronomers; and the overlap between solar eclipses and exoplanets.

Solar eclipse open house at Rittenhouse Astronomical Society

If you don't mind a little travel for the solar eclipse fix, the Rittenhouse Astronomical Society, at 24 Veterans Square in Media, is hosting an solar eclipse open house on Monday, April 8.

Doors open at 1 p.m. for the solar eclipse open house.

"Although telescopes are not needed to view the eclipse, we offer a good spot to gather and observe," read a portion of the event's description. "Astro-photographers, Astronomers, Astronomy Enthusiasts all encouraged to gather and share the view.  The visitor center will be open with science activities.

"Live streaming in the Visitor Center will be provided indoors if the skies are overcast or raining."

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More about the Solar Eclipse in April

The Great American Eclipse, the first of its kind since 2017, will chart a path of totality along a southwest-to-northeast line through North America.

Daylight will give way to sudden darkness for a few brief minutes that day as the orbiting moon will appear as the same size as the sun, completely blocking its light. Many animals will fall silent while other nocturnal creatures will stir during the resulting "totality," whereby observers can see the outmost layer of the sun's atmosphere known as the corona.

"The sky will darken much like dawn or dusk for the short duration of the total eclipse. This will last for a maximum of three minutes and 41 seconds," read the Department of Conservation and Natural Sciences' website on the solar eclipse. "In general, the eclipse will begin around 2:00 p.m. on April 8 as the moon’s orbit begins to travel in between the sun and Earth, appearing as a dark shadow biting into the bright sphere of the sun.

"Within the path of totality, the total eclipse phase will last from approximately 3:15 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. as the moon completely covers the sun’s surface."

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Observe the solar eclipse in Bucks County with these groups