Event is presented by the Lunar Planetary Institute and is free to all
HOUSTON (August 2, 2017) – Levy Park is the site of the historic Eclipse over Houston, presented by The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), on Aug. 21 from noon – 2 p.m. at 3801 Eastside St. in the Upper Kirby District. LPI is also partnering with the Clear Lake City-Harris County Freeman Branch Library, which is holding its own solar eclipse event at the same time. The Levy Park Conservancy invites the public to attend this free celebration at one of the city’s newest and most popular urban greenspaces.
Levy Park Conservancy and the Lunar Planetary Institute (LPI) team up for Eclipse over Houston at Levy Park on Aug. 21. Protective solar viewing glasses will be provided. (Photo courtesy of Lunar Planetary Institute.)
On that day, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and sun, casting the Moon’s shadow on the continental United States from coast to coast for more than 90 minutes. This is the first total solar eclipse visible over the U.S. since 1981 and the first since 1918 to be seen coast to coast, nearly 100 years ago. Houston will experience a partial solar eclipse, with about 70 percent of the sun being covered by the Moon. This eclipse will occur at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time.
Join scientists and educators from the LPI, and your community, at Levy Park, to witness this historical event which is sure to be talked about for many years to come. Safe, solar viewing glasses will be available at both Levy Park and the Freeman Library. The LPI reminds folks never to look directly at the sun without proper viewing equipment. The event is free, and folks are invited to pack a lunch.
Additionally, there is an art contest to celebrate Eclipse over Houston. People are encouraged to create art about solar eclipse science or how the eclipse impacts humanity. Art contest entries are due Aug. 8. Winning artwork will be displayed during the Aug. 21 solar eclipse events at both Levy Park and the Harris County – Freeman Branch Library.
“The Levy Park Conservancy is excited to partner with the Lunar Planetary Institute for this historic event which provides great learning opportunities for children and adults alike,” says Lindsey Carey, Program Coordinator for Levy Park Conservancy. “Levy Park is a wonderful venue for all ages, and we encourage families with school-age children to come out, since most schools do not start until Aug. 28. We are proud of the diverse programming Levy Park offers, including education, entertainment, fitness classes and more.”
For more details about Eclipse over Houston, check out the LPI website page. Details on the art contest are available on the Eclipse Over Houston Art Competition page. For questions related to the art contest, please contact info@sciartexchange.org.
About the Levy Park Conservancy
The Levy Park Conservancy is an affiliate of the Upper Kirby District Foundation, a private, nonprofit organization managing Levy Park, a six-acre City of Houston park in the Upper Kirby District of Houston. The Conservancy oversees maintenance, operations, long-term stewardship, programs and events, and partnerships and visitor services and concessions at Levy Park. Learn more about the Conservancy and Levy Park at levyparkhouston.org. Levy Park Conservancy can also be found on Facebook (Levy Park Conservancy) Instagram @levypark and Twitter @levyparkhouston.
About LPI
The Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI), a division of the Universities Space Research Association, was established during the Apollo missions to foster international collaboration and to serve as a repository for information gathered during the early years of the space program. Today, LPI is an intellectual leader in lunar and planetary science. The Institute serves as a scientific forum attracting world-class visiting scientists, postdoctoral fellows, students, and resident experts; supports and serves the research community through newsletters, meetings, and other activities; collects and disseminates planetary data while facilitating the community’s access to NASA science; and engages and excites, and educates the public about space science and invests in the development of future generations of explorers. The research carried out at LPI supports NASA’s efforts to explore the solar system.
About SciArt Exchange
SciArt Exchange, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, wants to change the world by bringing science and technology together with art to capture minds and hearts, engaging all of society in the future of space exploration, and promoting scientific innovation and collaboration. SciArt Exchange was conceived based on the international Humans in Space Art Program which invites participants to communicate creatively about the future of space and uses their multimedia artwork in displays and performances that engage others. To date, this Program has inspired thousands of participants of all ages and hundreds of thousands of artwork viewers and listeners worldwide.