FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  –  The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics and Discover the Universe have been working on sharing educational information and safety glasses in preparation for the June 10, 2021 Solar Eclipse.

An Annular Solar Eclipse will take place in the early morning hours of June 10, and is best viewed in Ontario, Quebec, and Nunavut. An ‘annular’ eclipse occurs as the moon passes in front of the sun, causing a ring of light to appear in the sky. Solar eclipses happen about once or twice a year, but this one is unique to our part of the world. Due to the nature of an annular eclipse, safety viewing glasses (or eclipse glasses) are required for direct observation. The visible light from the sun can cause ocular damage if looked at directly. More Information.

Background

Beginning in February, the Dunlap Institute and Discover the Universe began preparing for the eclipse by ordering safety glasses to give away to anyone in the areas where the eclipse would best be observed (the path of annularity). Discover the Universe, being an educational program, also prepared kits to mail out to people in remote communities. Learn more.

In April, we mailed out 267 educational kits to communities within the path of annularity, delivering them to schools, classrooms, and community groups. There was such interest in safety glasses, that Discover the Universe decided to launch an Eclipse Challenge! Members of the public are being challenged to use a projection method to safely observe the eclipse even without glasses. By letting the sunlight pass through a hole, onto a screen, the eclipse can be seen without directly looking at it.

 

 

Contact Info:

Mike Reid Public Outreach Coordinator, Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics Phone: +1 647-638-9001 Email: mike.reid@utoronto.ca Website: www.universe.utoronto.ca

Julie Bolduc-Duval Executive Director, Discover the Universe Phone: +1 418-332-0428 Email: julie@discovertheuniverse.ca Website: www.discovertheuniverse.ca

 

About

Founded in 2011, Discover the Universe provides free training and resources in astronomy for teachers and educators nation-wide. www.discovertheuniverse.ca

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto is an endowed research institute with more than 90 faculty, postdocs, students and staff, dedicated to innovative technology, ground-breaking research, world-class training, and public engagement. The research themes of its faculty and Dunlap Fellows span the Universe and include: optical, infrared and radio instrumentation; Dark Energy; large-scale structure; the Cosmic Microwave Background; the interstellar medium; galaxy evolution; cosmic magnetism; and time-domain science. The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, David A. Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics comprise the leading centre for astronomical research in Canada, at the leading research university in the country, the University of Toronto.