Total Eclipse Event Draws Several Hundred to Quad

NSU students, faculty, staff enjoy the Eclipse Watch Party.

More than 600 NSU students, faculty, staff and alumni came together on Monday, August 21, the first day of classes, for an Eclipse Watch Party in front of the Alvin Sherman Library. Certified eclipse glasses were given out to encourage safe viewing of the event. Cristina Law, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO, associate professor, College of Optometry, was on hand with many of the Optometry students to see that the glasses were being used properly to prevent damage to the retina.

Several hundred people viewed the eclipse through the two high-powered telescopes that were operated by Stefan Kautsch, Ph.D., associate professor, and Bryan Armentrout, Ph.D., assistant professor, both of the department of Chemistry and Physics, Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography.

“This solar eclipse is a powerful event that visualized the deep and ubiquitous connection between us on earth and the forces of the cosmos,” said Dr. Kautsch. “I was overwhelmed with the number of people who came out to see it, showing their interest in this impressive alignment of planetary bodies.”

Inside the atrium of the Alvin Sherman Library, many visitors took advantage of the opportunity to watch the eclipse from the NASA live feed on a large screen TV as the eclipse moved across the country. Educational materials about the phenomenon were available and on display nearby for readers of all ages who wanted to learn more about it.