Eclipse viewing party at Dover Public Library: What to know before you go

DOVER — The Dover Public Library is inviting the public "to share in the wonder of the solar eclipse" with a viewing party Monday, April 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. on the library’s front lawn.

The all-ages event will feature activities such as shadow drawings, making eclipse viewers and creating corona art. Refreshments will be served. The library will also have a telescope with a special sun filter.

This year’s solar eclipse will feature totality in northern New Hampshire and a 95% partial eclipse in Dover. New Hampshire is one of only 13 U.S. states which will experience a total solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses are rare in New Hampshire. Over the past 155 years, the state has had only two total solar eclipses in 1932 and 1959.

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There will not be another total solar eclipse visible in New Hampshire until 2079, when Dover will be in the path of totality.

Since Dover’s view is not of a total eclipse, glasses must be worn the entire time when viewing the sun. Free eclipse glasses are being handed out on Wednesday nights from 5 to 8 p.m. at the library. You do not need to be a cardholder to get a set of glasses. To ensure there are enough to go around, glasses are limited to one per couple, two per family.

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If glasses remain after March 27, library staff will hand them out at the Special STEM event on solar eclipses on Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m. and at an educational talk on eclipses titled “The Sky Guy Talks Eclipses” on Monday, April 1 at 6 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. For information, visit library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Eclipse viewing party at Dover Public Library