A-State invites students to experience the solar eclipse

JONESBORO – In about a month, a total solar eclipse will plunge Jonesboro and the surrounding area into complete darkness for about two and a half minutes.

To provide resources that are both fun and educational, Arkansas State University will host “Howl at the Sun” on Monday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

“We reached out to schools to our east and in the Delta region and invited them to come not only to tour campus and learn more about A-State but also to enjoy a shared celebration of something that doesn’t happen very often,” said Shea Harris, outreach coordinator for the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI).

This event will coincide with the total solar eclipse that will pass through Arkansas. Jonesboro is located at the edge of the eclipse path and will reach totality just before 2 p.m.

Harris said, “We are hosting an event for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, aimed at students in 7th grade and above.”

There will be several activities available on campus for area students to take part in.

He added, “There are several departments offering hands-on activities with a STEM science theme and a focus on space science.”

Hands-on activities will include observation stations, distribution of solar eclipse safety glasses, and a tour of a scale model of the solar system that students can experience.

“ABI has a standalone model of the solar system that runs across campus, allowing children to walk through it and truly see how vast the solar system is. It’s built to a scale of 10 billion so children can count the distances between the planets,” Harris continued.

In addition to the event for high school students, the Student Activities Board will host activities for A-State students.