Over 200 students and faculty crowded in awe as they watched the solar eclipse in the quad of the Los Medanos College Pittsburg campus. Solar viewing glasses were given out to safely view the moon passing in front of the sun on April 8.
Many also got a closer look at the eclipse when looking through the telescope provided at the viewing hosted by the Astronomy Club. The maximum eclipse took place at 11:14 a.m.
Assistant Astronomy Professor and Club Advisor Katie Berryhill explained that while totality was seen in other parts of the U.S. and Mexico, the LMC community was only able to view a partial solar eclipse.
“At the peak, we saw about 44%of the sun’s surface blocked out by the moon so it looked like a cookie with a bite taken out of it,” she said.
Berryhill explained that this solar eclipse was special because it was at least partially visible across the entire country and it is the last one that will be visible until 2044.
Spanish Professor Laurie Huffman was mesmerized by the sight of the eclipse and appreciated how this rare occurrence brought everyone together.
“The LMC community joined the rest of America in celebrating something magical that is sometimes only seen once in a lifetime,” Huffman said.
Astronomy Club Co-President Janelle Hipolito said that knowing the subject made the eclipse even more fascinating.
To spread this knowledge to those in attendance, the club provided various resources to learn about what was taking place, including a model of the sun and moon’s alignment and a projector that showed the moon’s shadow.
Astronomy Club Co-President Manfredo Ochoa wanted people to understand that solar eclipses can be very practical, adding that it led to the discovery of helium in the past.
“I feel like people underestimate the importance of astronomy,” he said. “It’s really big and overwhelming, but it does have practical uses.”
Ochoa said the events show where the club’s enthusiasm about the subject comes from.
“We think it’s very important to explore space science because it’s like the bigger picture,” Ochoa said. “When you look out into space, you realize how small we are in galactic scales and terms.“
He wants the club to be a space where students who are interested in learning about astronomy feel welcome, as he thinks it’s a rare interest.
Hipolito also encourages all students to join the Astronomy Club which meets in the planetarium every other Friday from 3 to 4 p.m.
