NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/853309
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 47 What's an average amount of time for all of this to take place? First through fourth contact can last a few hours. Totality can last up to 7 minutes, but that's very unusual; 3-5 minutes is more normal for the maximum that totality can last. What does the sky look like before, during and after the eclipse? For most of the partial eclipse, the sky will look normal. Human eyes are really good at adapting to change in light. During this time, you'll notice that if you look at something like a tree's shadow, the dapples of light are crescent- shaped. The shadows will also get sharper as the eclipse progresses. As totality approaches, the sky will darken, especially to the west. The temperature will drop. Animals might become confused because their internal clocks are telling them it's afternoon, but their eyes are telling them it's nighttime. This will be when about 90 percent of the sun is obscured. During totality, the sky will be dark with a sunset glow around the horizon, and you can see bright stars and planets – Mars and Venus to the west, Mercury and Jupiter to the east. You might be able to catch Venus about half an hour before and after the eclipse. Then the entire thing runs in reverse. Observations of a 1919 eclipse helped confirm the theory of relativity, which states that objects such as the sun warp space-time, bending light. To test this, Sir Arthur Eddington measured the apparent position of stars near the sun during the eclipse, and compared it with their normal positions. They indeed appeared different. Pictured is a negative of one of Eddington's photographs. Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park* From 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 21, join us at the park for an eclipse-related scavenger hunt. Fort Kearny State Recreation Area* On Aug. 21, enjoy plant journaling and Citizen Science activities – gathering wildlife data for scientists to use – from noon to 3 p.m. Indian Cave State Park* The festivities start with an eclipse-related outdoor movie on Aug. 18. Aug. 19 and 20 activities include living history demonstrations, horse trail rides, a buffalo stew cookout, a presentation by Matthew "Sitting Bear" Jones and outdoor movie showings. Glow-in-the-dark T-shirts will be available for purchase. Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area Enjoy food, an eclipse presentation and a star party with a local amateur astronomer starting at 5 p.m. on Aug. 19. Lake Minatare State Recreation Area* View the eclipse from the lighthouse, and enjoy educational programs throughout the morning on Aug. 21. Mormon Island State Recreation Area* On Aug. 21, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., help scientists learn more about the behavior of animals during an eclipse by recording your observations in a diary. A map of locations where animals are commonly seen in the park will be provided. Niobrara State Park The park will be hosting a viewing of NASA's live streaming of the total solar eclipse from Carbondale, Illinois, on the television in the Niobrara Group Lodge starting at 10 a.m. You can also view a partial eclipse from the Lodge platform. Rock Creek Station State Recreation Area* Come to the park at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Aug. 20 for a fun presentation about the eclipse by University of Nebraska-Lincoln physics professor Gregory Snow. Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area On Aug. 19 at 9 a.m., come to Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area to learn more about the eclipse and how to view it safely. Windmill State Recreation Area* On Aug. 19 at 9 p.m., enjoy stargazing, viewing the Perseid meteor shower and exploring the night skies with a telescope. ■ When viewing an eclipse, do not photograph while driving or stop in the road or park on roadways or bridges. A number of parks will be holding special events to celebrate the eclipse on Monday, Aug. 21, and in the days preceding. Below is a selected list of events; for the latest details, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/eclipse. Eclipse glasses will be available at these parks while supplies last; bring your own to ensure you'll have a pair for safe viewing. A park entry pass is required at all park areas. In the list below, an asterisk (*) by the park name indicates that visitors can view the total eclipse there. A full list of parks within the path of the total eclipse can also be viewed at OutdoorNebraska.org/eclipse. A number of parks will be holding special events to l b t th li M d A 21 d i th d Celebrating the Eclipse at a Park