In a 2013 solar eclipse, the moon passes in front of the sun. (NASA/SDO)
The Desert Park Exhibition Society is taking special measures to accommodate people who couldn’t get sold-out tickets for viewing Monday’s solar eclipse.
Those showing up at the gates without tickets will still be allowed in, but they’ll have to use other options besides special glasses to safely view the eclipse.
“We’re the kind of folk who want to do everything possible to welcome people to our facilities,” said Desert Park president Bruce Fuller in a news release.
“If folks are prepared to work with us a little, we’re prepared to make a full house work,” he said.
Desert Park had limited the number of attendees at its Science in the Sun brunch to 250 – a limit based on the number of viewing glasses available allowing spectators to look at the sun safely.
“We’ve had a large number of people disappointed they couldn’t get tickets for the event, so we did a little research, put some minds to work and came up with additional viewing options,” said Fuller.
The options include the creation of viewing cards and eclipse viewing boxes.
Desert Park is also inviting people with their own viewing glasses or those prepared to make their own viewing box to join the party.
Those without tickets may get a smaller, continental breakfast and admission will be by donation. Children attending can still participate in the educational component.
The event starts at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 21.
Between 9:13 a.m. and 11:42 a.m., the sun, moon and Earth will align and the moon will obscure a portion of the sun. The phenomenon reaches its peak around 10:25 a.m. when close to 90 per cent of the sun is covered.
Viewing the eclipse without proper eye protection can cause serious eye damage without the viewer being aware until it is too late.
Most reputable sellers of protective glasses have been sold out and people are warned to beware of counterfeits.
The path of the total eclipse follows a band across the United States about 100 kilometres wide. The closest place people can view the total eclipse is Oregon, but Osoyoos provides one of the best locations in Canada.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
