Rock Island, IL: If you're planning on viewing the August solar eclipse, you'll need special glasses, and you can pick them up for free at Rock Island Public Library locations.
The special glasses are available at Rock Island Downtown, 30/31 and Southwest Libraries, and are free. Rock Island is one of the 2,000 libraries nationwide that received shipments of the free glasses, provided through the STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net) at the Space Science Institute.
Rock Island Library will also offer guided solar eclipse viewing from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm on Monday, August 21 at the Rock Island 30/31 Library, 3059 30th Street. Library staff will offer free solar glasses to those who don't already have them, provide brief safety tips, lead solar viewing, and offer learning activities for families and children. The drop-in events are recommended for ages 8 and up, and are also open to teachers and group leaders who want to provide a lesson around the experience. Teachers who wish to bring classes are requested to call 309-732-7315 so glasses can be reserved for their students. The event is free and open to the public.
This is the first total eclipse to cross the entire U.S. since 1918. People in a narrow path from Oregon to South Carolina will see a spectacular total eclipse, with the Moon briefly covering the Sun, and day turning into night. In the Quad Cities, weather-permitting, we will see a partial eclipse, where the Moon covers a good part of the Sun. Sunglasses will not protect your eyes. Special glasses – or indirect techniques to view the Sun – are needed to look at the Sun safely during a partial eclipse. In the Quad City area, eclipse time is 11:48 am to 2:38 pm, with maximum eclipse at 1:14 pm.
Rock Island Library locations are: Downtown Library, 401 19th Street; 30/31 Library, 3059 30th Street, and Southwest Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road.
For details about other library services and programs, please visit www.rockislandlibrary.org, pick up a fall events guide, call 309-732-READ, or follow the library on Facebook and Twitter.
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