Eastern Washington club provides Roos Field viewing opportunity
While it’s not complete totality, the 91 percent coverage that Cheney and the rest of the Spokane area will experience during the Aug. 21 solar eclipse is pretty close.
At least that’s what Eastern Washington University student Jason Schriver thinks, and he and the rest of the EWU astronomy club are offering residents a chance to view the eclipse safely.
The club is holding a viewing party at the Inferno at Roos Field this Monday, with gates from the upper level P12 parking lot opening at 9 a.m.
Schriver, the club’s secretary-treasurer, said the viewing here won’t be as intense as blackness that will occur in the eclipse’s path, which travels across central Oregon and Idaho as it traverses the U.S. But locally, the sun will be reduced to just a sliver as the moon passes in front, visibly affecting light levels.
“It will be pretty close to dark even here,” Schriver said. “It will be pretty much like a sunset.”
The partial eclipse begins around 9:12 a.m. and will end at 11:46 a.m., with Schriver saying the darkest point, with about 91 percent coverage, taking place around 10:30 a.m. Viewers will be able to sit in the grandstands at Roos and view the event, and while the lights will likely be on in preparation for Eagles’ football practice, Schriver said that wouldn’t have any impact on the viewing. The club will also set up telescopes at the top of the stands, which is wheelchair accessible.
The club will also be selling glasses, which are necessary to view the eclipse safely, with a pair going for $3, or two for $5. There will also be limited concessions such as bottled water and soda pop, chips and some packaged goods for sale too.
Schriver said all proceeds from sales go to the club to help them fund four planned events in the coming year.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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