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As the moon prepares for its eclipse of the sun on August 21, many local museums and libraries are preparing to host viewing parties of the event.
At the Summit County Historical Society, the viewing party features… a flock of sheep. Visitors to the event, which will be held at the Simon Perkins Stone Mansion – also known as “Mutton Hill” -- will be able to witness the reaction of the herd to the abnormally dim mid-day sky.
The Historical Society’s Leianne Neff Heppner says that the eclipse provides a unique chance to fulfill the group’s mission.
"The Summit County Historical Society’s primary missions deal with preservation, interpretation, and education, and right now we have a special opportunity for first-person interpretation -- but instead of people, it’s sheep," says Heppner.
Heppner says that because these particular sheep have never experienced an eclipse before, it’s uncertain how they’ll react: they might get ready to sleep, bah at each other, or simply become confused. The event is free to visitors of all ages, and glasses for safely viewing the eclipse will be available.
HERE’S WHERE TO OBSERVE THE ECLIPSE — Monday, August 21
- Cleveland Metroparks, Lakefront Reservation Edgewater Beach (in association with the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association). Telescopes equipped to view the eclipse will be tended by CAA members and eclipse viewing glasses will be available for loan ( $1 deposit). Cleveland Metroparks will provide “family activities” and “additional activities” to be announced. 12:30 to 4 p.m.
- Summit Metroparks will host solar eclipse viewings at F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm Visitors Center in Akron and Liberty Park Nature Center in Twinsburg.
- Cleveland Metroparks, Lakefront Reservation, Wendy Park, will host Lake Erie Kayak/Stand-Up Paddleboard eclipse tours. Participants will row out onto the lake using kayaks or paddleboards to view the eclipse. Adults only. Registration is $40.
- Cleveland Metroparks, West Creek Reservation, will host a viewing hosted by a naturalist, with viewing glasses provided to the first 30 participants.
- Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, Blendon Woods in Westerville, will provide a limited number of solar glasses for viewing.
- Case Western Reserve University will hold an eclipse party in front of the Kevin Smith Library and open the Astronomy Department’s telescope on the roof of AW Smith to project the eclipse for public view.
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s Ralph Mueller Observatory will be open for viewing the eclipse from 1 to 4 p.m., weather permitting. The image of the sun will be projected on a screen from the finder telescope, and safe viewing glasses for viewing the sun will be on hand for visitors. Planetarium programs on the eclipse scheduled through the end of August in the Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium.
- https://www.cmnh.org/calendar/eclipse-family-day
- The museum is also hosting a two-day members-only bus trip to Kentucky hosted by an astronomer to see the total eclipse.
- Blesser Park in Avon Lake will have a viewing party from 1 to 4 p.m., with astronomers and representatives from NASA. Activities will include making pinhole projectors to view the partial eclipse. Entertainment by The Glenn Band. Solar glasses will be provided.
Great Lakes Science Center on Cleveland’s lakefront will hold special events from Saturday, August 19th through Monday, August 21st, including a viewing of the eclipse from the GLSC garage lawn.
- The Summit County Historical Society in Akron will throw a party at the Simon Perkins Stone Mansion. Observe a herd of sheep reacting to the eclipse. Viewing glasses available for $2.
- Hiram College will hold a viewing of the eclipse on its campus, with members of the public welcome to attend. Viewing glasses available for free as long as supplies last.
- Stark State College in Jackson Township will have a watch party featuring popsicles made with liquid nitrogen.
- In Sandusky, the library is holding a watch party on its front lawn. Special safety glasses available for free.
- Reed Memorial Library in Ravenna, Ohio will provide glasses to view the eclipse and host “sun and moon activities” in the parking lot during the eclipse.
- Massillon Public Library will provide viewing glasses, stream NASA’s video feed of the total eclipse, and serve “moon pie” and “sun tea” at its viewing party.
- At the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library, educators will discuss solar eclipses and how to view it safely. There will be books about the sun and the moon on display and crafts for children.
