Eclipse 2017 @ Georgia Tech

When students arrive at Georgia Tech on Aug. 21 for the first day of fall classes, a special treat awaits them: a mid-afternoon solar eclipse. 

It is expected to be the most-watched celestial event of the year: A total solar eclipse that will be visible across the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. Georgia Tech isn’t on the path of 100 percent totality, but above campus, the moon will block 97 percent of the sun’s disk at approximately 2:37 p.m. EDT. The eclipse should darken skies, drop air temperatures, and make birds think it’s bedtime.

College of Sciences Dean Paul Goldbart welcomes new students on Eclipse Day, Aug. 21, 2017

Dean and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair Paul Goldbart welcomes our students to campus and to the College of Sciences on this auspicious first day of classes, coinciding with the 2017 solar eclipse.

How to Safely Watch the Solar Eclipse

The sunlight from a partial eclipse is bright enough to injure unprotected eyes. Georgia Tech astronomer James Sowell explains how to safely watch the eclipse and provides instructions for building your own viewing devices.

Kessler Campanile at night
Where to Watch the Solar Eclipse on Campus

First, get solar-eclipse glasses at noon on Aug. 21 from one of six distribution locations across campus. Then join us at the Kessler Campanile, participate in activities, and watch a live stream from the Georgia Tech Observatory. In case of rain, the event will be held at Clough Commons.

Smiling woman with eclipse glasses
How to Get the Most Out of Your Eclipse Experience

The temptation to report to social media or record a video will be strong, but we urge you instead to take in the experience. Those who have watched total eclipses say it's definitely worth it.

Can't Make it Outdoors? Watch a Live Stream.

Starting at 1 p.m., the College of Sciences will broadcast a live stream from the Georgia Tech Observatory. Audio from the Georgia Tech Sonification Lab's sonification of the solar system will accompany the live feed.

An illustration of the Theory of General Relativity
Can Eclipses Still Uncover Surprises for 21st-Century Scientists?

Eclipses darken our skies, but for centuries they’ve shed light about how the sun works and affects Earth. When the moon blocks the sun’s rays, a window opens for scientists to study the heavens in ways they usually can’t.

Mel Gibson's Apocolypto
Eclipses in Storytelling

Eclipses have inspired artists over the years. Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts Professor Lisa Yaszek gives her take on famous uses of solar eclipses in popular culture.

A patch of darkness on earth during a solar eclipse
More Eclipse-Related Resources

Can't get enough of the eclipse? Here are other websites offering eclipse-related resources, including live video feeds of the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse.

What Happens During a Total Solar Eclipse?

James Sowell, an astronomer, senior academic professional in the School of Physics, and director of the Georgia Tech Observatory, takes a look at the changes that will take place on Earth during the eclipse.