St. Lawrence University launches educational resources for total solar eclipse

CANTON, N.Y. (WWTI) – St. Lawrence University is celebrating its position within the path of totality with a new website dedicated to informing the public about the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8.

The website includes an explainer video from Henry Priest Professor of Physics Aileen O’Donoghue and will feature a livestream of the event with expert commentary. Professor O’Donoghue, who teaches several astronomy courses at the national liberal arts college, explains what you should expect to see-and experience-in the path of totality.

During the approximately 3 minutes of totality, the sun will be completely obscured by the moon. We will not be able to view any of the surface of the sun, however what you will see instead is the outer atmosphere of the sun which is called the corona-hot ionized gas being blown off the sun.

St. Lawrence University Professor of Physics Aileen O’Donoghue

No one is more excited than senior physics major Tyler Karasinski of North Haven, Connecticut. He trained to become a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador so that he could help prepare the campus and wider Canton community to fully experience-and understand-the astronomical marvel heading their way on April 8. Using resources provided by NASA and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, he’s spent the past academic year educating students on campus and in local schools.

On April 8, both Karasinski and O’Donoghue, as well as other physics faculty, anticipate experiencing the total solar eclipse at a campus-wide event, where students will be able to view the action through high-powered telescopes. Afternoon classes are canceled.

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