Thank you to everyone who joined us for the total solar eclipse!

Missed it? Tune in to UVMtv's livestream of the sky from our Davis Center balcony to watch totality on campus.

UVM Eclipse News & Safety Messages:

Not sure what to do with your eclipse glasses? Consider donating them at one of the Info Desks in the Davis Center so they can be used at eclipses around the world with Astronomers Without Borders. Donations will be taken until Friday, April 12.

 

Eclipse Day Schedule of Events:

Exploring Animal Biodiversity Through Sound - Dr. Laura J May-Collado
10-10:45am @ Davis Center Grand Maple Ballroom

Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Eclipses - Dr. Luis Vivanco
11-11:45am @ Davis Center Grand Maple Ballroom

Enabling Technologies for Deep Space University CubeSats - Dr. Carl Brandon
12-12:45pm @ Davis Center Grand Maple Ballroom

Keynote Address, 1-2pm @ Davis Center Grand Maple Ballroom
"Today's Solar Eclipse and the Secrets Eclipses Tell about New Worlds on our Cosmic Horizon," with Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger, Director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University

Today's Solar Eclipse will paint a spectacular picture on the sky, where Earth, the Moon, and the Sun highlight fascinating dynamics of our Cosmos. But eclipses do not only reveal the movement of a planetary system; they also allow us to explore new worlds, exoplanets circling other stars. The detection of exoplanets orbiting other stars has revolutionized our view of the cosmos. First results suggests that it is teeming with a fascinating diversity of rocky planets, including those in the Habitable Zone. With the launch of NASA's flagship telescope, JWST, and upcoming next generation telescopes, we are for the first time capable to peer into the atmospheres of rocky planets that give us a glimpse into what other worlds are like. Our own planet and its wide range of biota serves as a Rosetta stone for how we could detect habitability and signs of life in the cosmos. For the first time in human history, we have developed the technology to detect potential habitable worlds. With more than 5500 discovered exoplanets, the diversity of these fascinating worlds is breathtaking - and it all started with an eclipse.

Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger smiles at the camera

Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger is an award-winning astrophysicist and astrobiologist, Founding Director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell, Professor in Astronomy, and a pioneer and world-leading expert in modeling habitable worlds and their light fingerprint. Her research focuses on rocky planets circling other stars, with a focus on potentially Earth-like exoplanets in the Habitable Zone. Lisa Kaltenegger served among others on the National Science Foundation's Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) and on NASA senior review of operating missions. She is a Science Team Member of NASA's TESS Mission, as well as the NIRISS instrument on JWST. She has spent the last decade finding new ways to spot life in the cosmos, working with NASA And ESA from Austria to the Netherlands, Harvard, Germany, and now Cornell. Lisa Kaltenegger was named one of America's Young Innovators by Smithsonian Magazine, an Innovator to Watch by TIME Magazine, and was selected as one of the European Commission's Role Models for Women in Science and Research. Among her international awards are the Invited Discourse lecture at the IAU General Assembly in Hawaii, the Heinz Meier Leibnitz Prize for Physics of Germany, the Doppler Prize for Innovation in Science of Austria, and the Barry-Jones Inauguration Award of the Royal Astrobiology Society and Open University in Britain. She is part of the IMAX 3D movie, "The Search for Life in Space," and gives public lectures, including at Aspen Ideas Festival, TED Youth, World Science Festival, and the Kavli Foundation at the Adler Planetarium, which was live-streamed to six continents. Her book, "Alien Earths: The New Science of Planet Hunting," will be published on April 16th, 2024. Asteroid Kaltenegger7734 is named after her. We are thrilled to have Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger on campus with us for the eclipse to share the secrets eclipses tell about new worlds on our cosmic horizon!

The Eclipse Day Seminar Series & Keynote Address are ticketed events. Click here to reserve your free spot at any or all of these seminars OR register as a virtual attendee to access the livestream link.

 

Eclipse Scavenger Hunt

From 9am - 12pm on Eclipse Day, TWELVE space stations will be hidden across campus. Unscramble the scavenger hunt key, race to each moon station, scan the QR code, and complete the activity. The first 400 students who complete all 12 stations and return to the UVM Eclipse Day table on the Davis Center Third Floor will receive FREE eclipse swag! The space station scramble is posted HERE!

eclipse swag showing drawstring bags with the eclipse cat, baseball hats with the eclipse path embroidered on them, and a diner mug with the eclipse cat.

Prizes include embroidered hats showing the eclipse path through Vermont (available in purple, blue, tan, and grey), drawstring bags featuring our eclipse cat (available in black and UVM green), and classic diner mugs featuring our eclipse cat and a FREE drink at Hendersons! 

Other Eclipse Day Events

Student Art Exhibition
10am-2pm @ Williams Hall lobby

Explore the many talents and skills UVM student artists have to offer at this exhibition!

Quiet Activity Space
10am-2pm @ Discovery & Innovation Lobby Areas

Stop by and rest in some comfy chairs while doing space-themed puzzles, art challenges, and other relaxing activities while you wait for the eclipse to begin.

The School of the Arts Celebrates the Eclipse with Performances
Located on the Royall Tyler Theater Portico / front steps

11:30-11:45am - A Capella ensemble, Viridescent
11:45-12:00pm - Play on themes of light and dark
12:00-12:20pm - UVM Vocal Jazz Ensemble
12:20-12:35pm - Play on eclipse themes
12:35-1:00pm - Music Ensemble and Dance Students, audience participation encouraged!

The Eclipse Begins at 2:14pm!!

Join us at one of our five eclipse viewing stations across campus to engage with fun viewing activities, look through our solar viewing telescopes, or learn about NASA citizen science projects you can do to contribute real eclipse data that will be used in real NASA research projects! Our stations have been chosen based on their clear view of where the sun will be in the sky when totality begins at 3:26pm. Watch together as the hill goes dark, birds quiet, and the Sun is completely blocked by our Moon.

The Eclipse Viewing Station Map lists the 5 viewing stations located at: Tango (pi) Statue Green, Royall Tyler Theater Plaza, Davis Center Green, Harris Millis Ampitheater, and Redstone Green.

Eclipse Afterparty
5:30-9pm @ Brennan's Pub

The eclipse ends at 4:37pm, but the festivities do not! Join UPB in the Davis Center to play billiards in the Burak Lounge, make s'mores and hang out by the fire pits outside, or head to the Brennan's stage at 6-7pm to watch Pillow Prince perform!

Thank you all for joining us at this wonderful astronomical event!

UVM Eclipse Day FAQs

1. Where can I get my eclipse glasses?

All UVM faculty, staff, and students are invited to get FREE eclipse glasses for this event! There are a few ways they will be distributed:

  • For Undergraduate Students: From April 1-7, get your glasses from your RA, or if you live off campus, pick them up from one of the Davis Center Info Desks.
  • For Faculty, Staff, & Graduate Students: Get your glasses from your college's Dean's Office the week of April 1-5!
  • For non-college staff: Your glasses are already being distributed! If you have questions on who to contact, email Ellen.Brennan@uvm.edu.

If you have any questions, contact Ellen.Brennan@uvm.edu.

2. Can I recycle my eclipse glasses?

If you don't plan to keep your glasses after the eclipse, please consider donating them! UVM is proud to partner with Astronomers Without Borders to recycle gently used eclipse glasses and distribute them to people around the world who may not otherwise be able to enjoy eclipses safely. To donate your glasses, simply place them in the marked bins at any of the five eclipse viewing stations on April 8th or in the marked bins at the Davis Center Info Desks April 8-12.

3. Will there be classes on Monday, April 8th?

Monday, April 8th, has been designated an Alternative Instruction Day, and many classes may not be meeting. Please contact your professors to determine whether they will be holding class.

4. When exactly is the total solar eclipse?

The eclipse begins at 2:14pm on Monday, April 8th, and ends at 4:37pm. Totality, when the moon will be completely blocking the sun and can be viewed without eclipse glasses, is from 3:26-3:29pm.

5. What should I expect for the day?

Expect a lot of great and free activities! Explore the schedule of events above, and please engage with as many as possible. The scavenger hunt has tons of amazing prizes; the School of the Arts has exhibitions and performances all day; our seminar series is filled with amazing talks on eclipse topics ranging from wildlife reactions to cultural experiences to finding other habitable planets; the afterparty has live music from UVM student bands and fun games. 

Depending on the quality of weather, traffic in and around Burlington may be congested. Stay on campus to avoid the hassle, and enjoy all the programming we have here! The eclipse will begin at 2:14pm, and we will all gather at the viewing stations across campus to watch this historic event together.

6. How can I reserve my free tickets for the seminar series?

The seminar series is a ticketed event, but the tickets are free! Click here to book your in-person spot at all 4, or choose just a few of your favorite topics.

7. If I'm not on UVM campus, can I still partake in the eclipse events?

Yes! Our entire seminar series will be livestreamed, including keynote speaker, Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger. Click here to register as a virtual attendee for the seminar series to get the free livestream link.

8. Are there accessible eclipse viewing options?

Yes! Our Davis Center Green eclipse viewing station will be equipped with NASA's tactile eclipse booklet. We will also have interpreters for each of our eclipse seminars. UVM is committed to creating inclusive and accessible events. If you need accommodations to participate, please contact Ellen Brennan at Ellen.Brennan@uvm.edu. All requests must be made by Monday, April 1st.

Eclipse Events & Resources for Non-UVM Eclipse Viewers

Silver Special Collections Art Talk

The Sun, Moon, and Pancakes: Photographers, Art, and the Heavens
March 27th, 5:30pm @ Marsh Room of Billings Library
Bill McDowell, professor of photography in the School of the Arts, will talk about art photographers who have used the sun, moon, and night sky as subjects. See the full event description here!

Lane Series Event: Telegraph Quartet

April 5th, Doors @ 7pm, Show @ 7:30pm. 384 South Prospect St., Burlington VT
Winners of the 2016 Naumburg Chamber Music Award and the 2014 Fischoff Competition, the San Francisco-based Telegraph Quartet (Eric Chin and Joseph Maile, violins; Pei-Ling Lin, viola; Jeremiah Shaw, cello) have performned in the world's greatest venues and festivals. We are delighted to welcome them to the Lane Series. Their program for us will be Fanny Mendelssohn, String Quartet; George Walker, String Quartet No. 1 "Lyric"; and Antonin Dvorák, String Quartet No. 14 in A-flat Major, OP 105 B. 193. For more information and tickets, click here.

Unfortunately, we have reached event and parking capacity for visitors and are unable to welcome further groups from our northeast academic neighbors at this time. If you are visiting Burlington for the eclipse, please explore the resources linked below!

The State of Vermont has created a wonderful online resource for all things eclipse: countdown, information, events, safety, and more.

Vermont Vacation provides a one-stop shop for eclipse activities, events, and celebrations across the state of Vermont. From downtown main streets to ski resorts to breweries to isolated parks, choose how you want to experience this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.

The City of Burlington is hosting many eclipse events open to the public! There will be an abundance of viewing locations in the Burlington area, from local parks like Waterfront Park, Battery Park, or Oakledge Park to more rural areas outside of town. Check out their ever-evolving page to plan your visit to Burlington, or explore the Hello Burlington page for details about the surrounding area.

The ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is hosting a multi-day eclipse festival at the museum in downtown Burlington. This is a ticketed event, so be sure to book your visit early!

Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, is hosting a weekend-long eclipse celebration. Explore their events leading up to the eclipse, and spend your day with their experts and educators at the planetarium for Sun+Moon+You. You can also join from anywhere by tuning in to Vermont Public!

We encourage you to explore these pages and more to find the right eclipse event for you! We will continue to add events open to the public here as they are finalized, so stay tuned!