Total Solar Eclipse
04.08.2024
A total solar eclipse only lasts for a few minutes, but in that short window lies bountiful knowledge of Earth and space. Helium was discovered and relativity was proven through eclipse research. Learn how UMaine students and researchers are exploring the cosmic wonder on April 8, and join them on the adventure.
Events
Stargazing with Versant Power Astronomy Center team
April 7, 8 p.m.
Town Office, 369 Main St., Jackman, Maine 04945
Eclipse viewing with Versant Power Astronomy Center team
April 8, 1:30–5 p.m.
Town Office, 369 Main St., Jackman, Maine 04945
High altitude balloon launch
April 8
Location TBD
Versant Power Astronomy Center shows
ECLIPSE: The Moments of Wonder
Total Eclipse: Chasers of the Lost Sleep
Totality: Explore the Wonder of Eclipses
Other UMaine Programs
Maine 4-H Solar Eclipse Series
March 21– April 11, Thursdays at 4 p.m.
Online
4-H Science Fridays at UMaine Machias: Eclipse Investigations
March 22, 3 p.m.
Science Building, 116 O’Brien Ave., Machias, Maine
Learn about the Upcoming Solar Eclipse! Program for Kids
March 30, 10 a.m.
Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill, Maine
Chick Hill Eclipse Hike
April 8, 1-6 p.m.
Chick Hill, Clifton, Maine
News
UMaine projects expanding nationwide access to 2024 total solar eclipse
UMaine project will livestream total solar eclipse from the stratosphere
UMaine astronomers coordinating citizen science research on total solar eclipse in Northeast
The Maine Question podcast: How do I experience a total solar eclipse?
Mainers are helping collect images and data of the total solar eclipse for a nationwide citizen science project: CATE2024. UMaine’s Shawn Laatsch and Nikita Saini trained them how to use specialized telescopes to conduct their work.
Meet the researchers
Shawn Laatsch
Director, Versant Power Astronomy Center
For 30 years, Laatsch has worked for and directed planetariums across the U.S. and delivered astronomy shows and lectures worldwide, and has witnessed five total solar eclipses. He serves as the Northeast coordinator for NASA’s eclipse citizen science project: CATE2024.
Nikita Saini
Ph.D. Candidate, Physics
Saini has been training citizen scientists in Maine and the Northeast for NASA’s eclipse citizen science project: CATE2024. She works for the Versant Power Astronomy Center and is a teaching assistant with the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Rick Eason
Associate Professor Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Eason directs the UMaine High Altitude Ballooning Program, which he founded in 2011 with funding from the Maine Space Grant Consortium. He’s launched and recovered more than 145 high altitude balloons, including two during the 2017 solar eclipse, and others in places as far away as Hawaii, Kenya and Spain.
Andy Sheaff
Lecturer and facilities support, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Sheaff has been involved with UMaine’s High Altitude Ballooning Program since 2015, and has participated in several eclipse-related projects. At UMaine, he teaches the first-year introductory course in electrical and computer engineering, circuit theory, Linux systems administration and the senior capstone design course sequence. Other projects include a communications system for cave rescue incidents and environmental data collection and logging.