Virginia Tech and state parks in the New River Valley and greater region are offering events leading up to the April 8 solar eclipse and opportunities to view it on the day of the solar eclipse.
This will be the last solar eclipse visible from the continental United States until 2044.
The Virginia Tech watch event will be held on the same day at 2:30 p.m. at Drill Field.
Crater Lake State Park will host an information session about what people can expect when viewing the solar eclipse on April 6th, as well as a pinhole-making craft event. The information session will be held from 2pm to 3pm, and a pinhole event will be used for the entertainment of viewers. You can view the solar eclipse — scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. Both events will be held at the Interpretive Campfire Circle in Campground D.
A solar eclipse viewing event will be held on April 8th at state parks in the area.
Virginia State Parks Photos
Viewing events will be held on April 8 at Crater Lake, New River Trail and Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Both events will be held on April 8, although Crater Lake will also host another pinhole-making event that same day from 1 to 2 p.m. Buildings on the beach.Crater's Watch event begins at 2 p.m.
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New River Trail will hold a watch event at Shelter 1 (116 Max Meadows Orphanage Dr.) in the Foster Falls playground and picnic area starting at 1:30 p.m.
The Smith Mountain Lake event is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at the Discovery Center Pavilion.
The eclipse will begin at 1:55 p.m. at Crater Lake, peak at 3:12 p.m., and end at 4:27 p.m. The concealment rate is 86.5%.
On the New River Trail, the eclipse will begin at 1:54 p.m., peak at 3:13 p.m., and end at 4:28 p.m. The obscurity is 86.2%.
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At Smith Mountain Lake, the eclipse will begin at 1:57 p.m., peak at 3:15 p.m., and end at 4:29 p.m. The concealment rate is 84.7%.
For more information about the solar eclipse event, which runs through April 8, visit dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/solar-eclipse.
What visitors see during the eclipse depends on the weather and the park's location. Many parks, especially those in Southwest Virginia, are expected to experience more than 85% drought, with Wilderness Road expected to experience 90% drought.
Participants should wear appropriate eye protection. The only way to safely view a solar eclipse is to use specially designed eclipse filters or eclipse glasses that meet the international safety standard ISO 12312-2.
You should also use a solar filter for your camera or telescope.
Parking lots and viewing areas can fill up quickly, so visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and arrive early. To help guests view the eclipse safely, the park has a limited number of solar viewing glasses available for purchase. The items will cost $1 plus tax and will be placed in the park's visitor center and gift shop, according to a state park news release.
