Solar Eclipse viewing in Reno on May 20

On Sunday evening, May 20, Reno will be in the perfect viewing path for the annular eclipse.  An annular eclipse is when the moon crosses directly in front of the sun, but the lunar disk is too small to cover the entire sun.  When the moon is directly in front, it forms a black hole in the center of the sun, leaving a visible ring of fire. This is the first annular eclipse visible from the contiguous United States in almost 18 years.

The eclipse will be at maximum around 6:30pm.  You cannot and should not try to see this event with the naked eye.  Shadow boxes and welding lenses are deemed safe for home users.  Solar Eclipse viewers are available for purchase at Fleischmann Planetarium on the University of Reno campus for under $3 dollars.

The eclipse will be very visible from Lake Tahoe and Truckee, but a crescent will be visible, rather than the complete ring of fire.

Reno solar viewing:

There will be a free viewing event from 5-7:00pm at MacLean Observatory, University of Reno, 18600 Wedge Parkway in Southwest Reno.  This is a big event hosted by Fleischmann Planetarium and Science Center, the Astronomical Society of Nevada, the Nevada Historical Society, and KNPB Channel 5.

You are invited to bring a picnic dinner.  No alcohol is allowed on campus.

The following is a video of an annular eclipse by Science @ NASA.

My photo of the eclipse from Sacramento, CA