Five Fun Places Around Pittsburgh To Experience The Solar Eclipse

PITTSBURGH, PA - A difficult decision must be made before the first total solar eclipse to cross the country coast to coast in nearly a century occurs on Monday: Where should you go to get your eclipse game on?

The totality of the eclipse won’t be visible in western Pennsylvania. But the partial eclipse starts in Pittsburgh at 1:10 pm, when the sun is almost directly overhead. Maximum eclipse occurs 85 minutes later at 2:35 pm. The maximum eclipse will be visible for a little over two minutes. The partial eclipse ends at 3:55 pm.

During that nearly three-hour period, plenty of places around town are holding eclipse related events. Here are five you might want to consider:

• Carnegie Science Center, North Shore

Visitors are invited to watch the eclipse through special solar observation equipment, including a solar telescope. This telescope is designed for safe observation of the sun.

Along with special eclipse-themed demonstrations and crafts, live video feeds of the total eclipse visible in other parts of the country will be available in the Science Stage. The video feeds will be accompanied by commentary with the science center's astronomical specialists and experts. Seating is limited.

Guests also can purchase reserved seating in the Buhl Planetarium for special shows, demonstrations, and live feeds with commentary of the total eclipse in other parts of the United States. Each ticket purchased also includes a pair of eclipse glasses. Tickets are $3 for members and $5 for non-members (in addition to regular admission prices) and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, North Side

Gather in front of the museum to hear traditional eclipse folktales from around the world, make your own eclipse pinhole projector and grab a pair of viewing glasses to safely see the event.

• Ripepi Winery, Monongahela

Who wouldn’t want to see the moon blot out roughly 80 percent of the sun while sipping a nice Chardonnay? The winery will provide eclipse glasses and wine specials, and you’re welcome to bring your own cheese of picnic lunch.

• Frick Environmental Center, Frick Park, Squirrel Hill

The environmental center isn’t offering any wine specials, but will provide free viewing glasses to the first 50 people who show for the eclipse. No registration is necessary.

• WQED-TV, Oakland

The station gently mocked itself by putting out a “nerd alert” in announcing a program that begins with a live stream in the station studios before the party moves outside to watch the eclipse. The event is sold out, but you can get on a waiting list in case someone chickens out at the last minute.

Photo by Victor R. Ruiz via Creative Commons.