Mackenzie Wright
05 April 2024
Feature

WATCH: Excitement Builds for Solar Eclipse

The Frame took a visit to the McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University to learn more about Monday's celestial event.

We're now less than a week away from an exciting celestial event.

You've probably heard a lot of talk about the upcoming solar eclipse that will be making its way across North America on April 8--which is this upcoming Monday.  Although here in Framingham we won't be in the direct path of totality, we will still be able to enjoy an impressive partial eclipse in which the moon will cover about 93% of the sun.

If you find yourself with your eyes to the sky Monday afternoon, it's important that you observe the eclipse safely. To learn more about what that entails, The Frame took a visit to the McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University to speak with FSU's Planetarium and Media Technologies Manager Ross Barros-Smith.

In addition to a telescope, it's also important to note that viewing any part of the sun through a camera lens or binoculars without a special-purpose solar filter can cause instant and severe eye injury, according to NASA. When it comes to obtaining these safety materials, Barros-Smith recommends that you verify where you purchase them from, in order to avoid counterfeits.

The American Astronomical Society has a list of suppliers with safe solar viewers and filters; that list can be found by clicking here.

Further articles

Following a community meeting on Monday, leaders on the project noted the first phase of construction into Framingham should hopefully begin in 2029.

With a 1.69% CIP shift—which was the same shift seen in FY25—residential taxpayers are slated to pay $11.91 per $1,000 of appraised property value. Commercial property owners would pay $24.13 per $1,000.

The work of local artists and independent filmmakers will be put on display during both days of the event, as attendees will also get the opportunity to learn and connect with each other.