It’s been 99 years since a total solar eclipse crossed the nation, and UW Colleges Southeast Region plans to be in front row seats for the event on its Eclipse Tour August 19 - 21. The path of the eclipse stretches from the Northwest in Portland, Oregon to the Southeast in Charleston, South Carolina. Continuing Education is excited that their group will travel to St. Joseph, Missouri to be in the center of the eclipse’s route. They feel their “classroom on wheels” is truly an experience which cannot be accessed in a classroom! To heighten the experience, the Continuing Education tour is honored to have Associate Professor Dr. William Dirienzo lead the group. Dirienzo teaches Astronomy at UW-Sheboygan.
Dirienzo, who earned his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Virginia, agrees that St. Joseph is an optimum region to view the eclipse. Although people will experience the Great Eclipse throughout the United States, it is only in the northwest to southwest path that it will appear the lights have been turned off, as the moon crosses between the earth and the sun.
This unique educational venture will bring traditional college students and community members together to initiate a learning environment that will cross multi-generations, as well as multiple states. One additional bonus to students is that the trip can be taken for college credit and will fulfill one credit of their NS/LS discipline. Community members need not fear homework; however, they will learn about astronomy from a university professor.
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This venture will originate with pick up points at all three campuses in the Southeast Region: UW-Sheboygan County, UW-Washington County, and UW-Waukesha early on Saturday, August 19. Before heading out of state, the group will stop at Yerkes Observatory, the University of Chicago’s observatory in Williams Bay. After a mid-day tour, the trip will head south to Moline, IL for the night, where Dr. Dirienzo will host an evening of star gazing and instruction. The next day, the group will continue to St. Joseph. St. Joseph is playing host to a large celebration and the group will participate in Sunday activities before the big event at Rosecrans Airport on Monday, August 21. The group will join thousands of spectators and other astronomers to experience 2 minutes and 39 seconds of totality, only 1 second short of the maximum time possible. Dr. Dirienzo will be front and center for questions and instruction.
Further information and registration can be accessed at the university websites: http://sheboygan.uwc.edu/continuing-ed/travel; or https://ce.uwc.edu/waukesha/catalog/category/educational-travel; or http://washington.uwc.edu/community/continuing-ed/travel.
