ASP Eclipse Ambassador Program
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific designates Eclipse Ambassadors to Guide Eclipse Observers
The mission of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) is to promote public science interest, engagement, and literacy through the awe and wonder of astronomy and related fields. Located in San Francisco, ASP offers many programs to improve the understanding of the workings of the cosmos. The latest ASP education program has designated more than 700 volunteers in North America to receive training as Eclipse Ambassadors. The primary goal of the Eclipse Ambassador program is to prepare solar eclipse observers to have an understanding of the science of the eclipse, and to have a safe, fun experience observing the April 8th eclipse.
To accomplish this, Eclipse Ambassadors are currently receiving training which will enable them to make presentations to people in their communities. Amateur astronomers have been paired with educators or undergraduate college students in communities around the country to work as Eclipse Ambassador teams. In North Georgia, amateur astronomer Frank Lock and educator Tita Anderson Lovell will make presentations during the time leading up to the total solar eclipse.
In Gainesville, Georgia, the April 8th eclipse will be partial, with the shadow of the moon covering eighty two percent of the light from the sun.
The moon will begin to cover the sun at 1:47:27 p.m.
The sun will be 82 % covered at 3:06:08 p.m.
(If 99 % of the sun were covered by the moon, the light would be forty times as bright as the full moon.)
The moon will no longer block light from the sun at 4:22:14 p.m.
(Times will vary slightly depending on observer's personal location.)
The eclipse can be safely observed using only Solar Eclipse Glasses that have the ISO 12312-2:2015 certification. There will not be another solar eclipse visible throughout North America until 2044. A recommended website to get information about the eclipse can be found at
https://nso.edu/for-public/eclipse-map-2024/
Information about presentations by the local Eclipse Ambassadors will be available soon.