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More than 1,000 Chicago Public Schools students gathered in the rotunda at the Museum of Science and Industry on Monday morning to build rockets, learn how to use telescopes and try to draw the outermost layer of the sun.
About 5,000 visitors are expected to watch the eclipse at the Museum of Chicago, which is holding an official viewing party in its courtyard. Indoors, visitors will watch his NASA livestream of the event in his Giant Dome theater and participate in space-related activities throughout the day. In Chicago, the moon blocks 94% of the sun’s rays.
Kate Higbee, the museum’s senior director of business development, said they began planning the event more than a year ago.
“This is one of those things that could have a huge impact on our understanding of science, the solar system, and the universe,” Higbee said. “This is a great opportunity for everyone to see, and there’s not much to do.”
Programming began around 10am when the first visitors arrived. The museum partnered with CPS and Black in Astro, an organization for Black people in astronomy, to set up tables of activities and information to help attendees better understand the event.
Chicago Public Schools STEM Curator Carmen Mahon said the eclipse is a perfect opportunity to get students excited and involved in science from an early age.
“I want them to embrace everything,” Mahon said. “Remember that you are human, experience is learning, and what we see can cause pure joy.”
CPS introduced activities to help museum visitors learn about solar eclipses in a variety of ways. Some draw pictures, some listen and learn, and some simulate a solar eclipse with a physical stress ball.
Mahon said one of the day’s biggest goals was for students to feel comfortable at the Hyde Park Museum.
“I grew up on the South Side, but I didn’t grow up feeling part of the museum,” Mahon said. “Someone said to me, ‘This is your museum, this is your South Side. And I thought, “What if we could make sure that all kids felt that way?” This is where science is done and this is your museum. ”
The museum has also set up several “pop-up” viewing locations around the city for Chicago residents who cannot come to the museum or pay admission.
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Museum representatives are stationed at Millennium Park, the Michigan Avenue Bridge, Oak Street Beach, and the DuSable Museum, which includes eclipse glasses and a telescope. Higbee said accessibility was a priority for the museum in putting together coverage.
“One of the great things about the eclipse is that it’s a community experience,” Higbee said. “You stand with a lot of other people, whether it’s your friends or your students, and you watch it happen together. I think everyone should have that.”
Voula Saridakis, the museum’s curator and NASA solar system ambassador, will be on hand to teach visitors about the science and significance behind solar eclipses.
She said she hopes everyone leaves the museum and MSI locations with a greater understanding of space, science and the wonders of space.
“These are the most spectacular events to witness, and they are rare,” Saridakis said. “This is a rare event and a beautiful event. I hope people young and old appreciate the beauty of the universe and the sky, and learn something new about science.”
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