How is UT Austin preparing for the solar eclipse?
AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's less than a month until the total solar eclipse and astronomy experts at the University of Texas at Austin are helping community members prepare for the once-in-a-lifetime event.
The total eclipse will be visible across Central Texas on April 8. The duration of the eclipse is poised to run from 12:17 p.m. to 2:58 p.m. April 8, with its peak totality — or the moment the moon fully the eclipses the sun — slated to happen between 1:36 p.m. and 1:38 p.m. in Austin.
Dr. Karl Gebhardt, chair of UT's astronomy department, told the City of Austin's tourism commission Wednesday the last time a total eclipse was visibly in the area Austin resides was in 1397; the next phenomenon won't be visible locally until 2343.
"Every time we get a chance to make a lot of people look up [at the sky], that's when we get excited and that's what this eclipse is doing," Gebhardt said.
During those two minutes of totality, viewers will be able to look at the sun with their naked eye while it's safely concealed by the moon. Due to the coverage, Gebhardt said it could feel upwards of 10° to 15° cooler, and some brighter planets could be visible.
As of right now, experts don't yet know definitively how many visitors Central Texas will welcome for the natural event. Gebhardt said he anticipates most people seeking out Hill Country views day of will leave early in the morning for the early afternoon event; he did forewarn that traffic will likely be jammed up following the eclipse's duration.
Locally at UT, Gebhardt added campus leaders will cancel classes in the hours leading up to and shortly following the eclipse April 8 to allow students, staff and other community members to take full advantage of the event. UT is expected to have between 10 and 15 solar telescopes scattered across campus for users to catch a glimpse of the sun up close.
For those without solar eclipse-friendly glasses, Gebhardt said people can use a tree and look at the ground, where moon-shaped crescents will linger.