MIAMI – Frost Science Museum President Douglas Roberts, who is also an astrophysicist, will soon be heading to Texas to view next Monday’s solar eclipse from the path of totality, and show it to museum visitors.
“For about four minutes or so, I’ll see the moon completely covering the sun, which is the most spectacular thing to see,” said Roberts. “It’s fun to be around a lot of people looking at a cool scientific event.”
In South Florida, things with look a little different.
“Near Miami, we’ll see a partial eclipse,” said Roberts. “So in that case, it kind of grazes the sun, so it’s maximum (is) around 3 o’clock Monday afternoon. If you’re here in Miami, you’ll see about 40% of the sun being covered by the moon.”
It’s still a rare and splendid sight to see.
“Honestly, it’s so fun to look at how the sun with the moon in front of it looks like a crescent,” said Roberts.
The last time there was a solar eclipse was back in 2017.
Roberts said this year, the moon is slightly closer to the Earth and the eclipse will be visible a little longer.
Remember, you should never look at an eclipse with the naked eye. Use special viewing glasses or a pinhole camera.
“If you come the day of on Monday, you can get a pair of eclipse glasses for free when you come here,” said Roberts.
That’s not your only option.
Public libraries in Miami-Dade and Broward counties are hosting events and giving away eclipse glasses. At Broward libraries, all you need is your library card.
“Once you are a cardholder of Broward County Libraries, you can visit any branch with your physical library card and that will give you access to one of the glasses,” said Broward Community Library Manager Jordaine Sterling.
Using the Broward County app is also an option.
“You can just visit any library location as well and present that virtual card and you will be able to get the glasses,” said Sterling.