Submitted by Washington State Library
For those who aren’t headed south for a total view of the solar eclipse on August 21, the Washington State Library is offering an alternative to watch the rarely seen astronomical phenomenon much closer to home.
The State Library is hosting an Eclipse Event at its Tumwater location from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Aug. 21. The event, which is free to the public, will be held on the south side of the library building, located at 6880 Capitol Blvd. SE in Tumwater.
“We invite everyone throughout the Olympia area to join us at our Eclipse Event on the 21st,” said State Librarian Cindy Aden. “This is a rare, amazing natural occurrence that the South Sound area won’t experience again until 2044, so we hope others will join us to observe and celebrate this incredible moment.”
The State Library will hand out 200 pairs of eclipse glasses on a first-come, first-served basis. A reflective projection area will be set up outside so that those who don’t receive the safety glasses can still watch and enjoy the eclipse. Because parking is very limited, people are asked to use public transportation to reach the library. Intercity Transit’s Bus #13 drops off passengers right outside the main library entrance.
A speaker from the Tacoma Astronomical Society will be on hand to talk about the science behind the eclipse and answer questions. People can use the special hashtag, #WSL_Eclipse, on social media posts to get in on the fun!
The Olympia area will experience about a 94 percent eclipse starting around 9:07 a.m. as the moon moves east. The optimal viewing time will be at 10:19 a.m. as the moon blocks nearly all of the sun. The eclipse will end around 11:38 a.m.
The State Library has distributed nearly 4,000 eclipse glasses to 44 libraries across the state for safe viewing of the eclipse. The list of libraries is here. Each library location will host programs filled with safety information, fun facts and learning opportunities for families.
