Mid-America Science Museum will be consumed by all things eclipse-related leading up to Monday's astronomical show.
The day-long Great American Total Solar Eclipse includes free admission from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, a limited number of certified solar eclipse glasses, and eclipse-related activities.
"The safety of our guests is our No. 1 priority for this event but, of course, our other priority is to educate people about the eclipse and why it happens, and how it affects our earth," said Jim Miller, the museum's marketing director.
Josh Manley, one of the museum's educators, said the eclipse is interesting from both historic and scientific perspectives, noting it has been more than 20 years since a solar eclipse has been visible from this part of the world, with the last one in the United States in 1994.
Hot Springs will experience 87-89 percent totality on Monday. It will be seven years before the United States experiences the next total solar eclipse.
"What I hope everybody gets out of it is twofold," Manley said. "One, I want everyone to understand what a total eclipse is, and how often it actually happens, where we can see it, and two, I hope that weather holds to where we actually get a spectacular show."
Miller said that, like the Garland County Library, the eclipse glasses the museum initially purchased for the event did not meet certification standards for use. Once the museum employees realized this, they reached out to NASA, which gave them 100 pairs of glasses for viewing the eclipse.
Miller said mishaps like that make Monday's event is a "learning experience" that will prepare them for Hot Springs being in the full path of 2024's eclipse.
"Even a hiccup like that is an educational opportunity for us to figure out, 'OK, these are the proper safety precautions we need to take," he said. "We'll be prepared for next time."
A viewing station and a telescope will be available on Monday. Throughout the day, visitors can make viewfinders in the museum's tinkering studio, enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers and watch eclipse shows in the digital dome theater.
Miller said the museum hopes for audience participation during the eclipse.
"We're part of the NASA Museum Alliance, and they're encouraging people to document it with their phones and share their experiences," he said.
Overall, the museum hopes to provide a safe eclipse viewing experience for the public.
"Just make sure to protect your eyes. You have to look at it through the correct vision, or you have to look at a shadow of it," Manley said. "Other than that, enjoy."
Local on 08/18/2017