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Lynchburg, VA Central Virginia Community College invites the community to celebrate the upcoming solar eclipse during the "Out of This World (Partial) Solar Eclipse Event" on the Main Campus on April 8 beginning at 11:15 a.m. This event promises a day filled with intellectual stimulation and celestial wonder while witnessing an extraordinary astronomical phenomenon.

The eclipse event offers a range of activities and lectures suitable for both seasoned astronomy enthusiasts and those simply curious about the mysteries of space.

Activities:

  • Amazement Square’s Planetarium: Explore the mysteries of the universe with our captivating planetarium experience.
  • Escape Room: Engage your problem-solving skills in an eclipse-themed escape room challenge.
  • Academy in Motion’s T-shirt Bleach Dying: Bring along a black t-shirt and create eclipse-inspired designs through bleach dying.
  • Live Streaming of Total Eclipse: Witness the awe-inspiring total eclipse via live streaming on-site.
  • Solar Telescope Viewing: Observe the eclipse up close through specialized solar telescopes provided by the Blue Ridge Astronomy Club.
  • Photobooths: Capture memories of this celestial event with our interactive photobooths.

Lectures:

  • Eclipsing Einstein by Matthew Poteat at 12:10 p.m.
  • That's Yesterday's Eclipse by Michael Babcock at 12:35 p.m.
  • Look Who's Talking by Vic Sizemore at 1:00 p.m.
  • Scientifically Speaking... by Daniel Schmidt & Timothy Marshall at 1:25 p.m.
  • Expert Panel Q&A: Engage with our panel of experts in a lively Q&A session at 2:15 p.m.

“Rain or shine, the event will go on!” Jodi Gillette, CVCC’s executive director of institutional advancement and the CVCC Educational Foundation stated. “To ensure everyone can safely enjoy viewing the eclipse, the Foundation is providing free eclipse glasses to the first 5,000 viewers.”

For more information and to stay updated on event details, visit https://centralvirginia.edu/event/out-world-partial-solar-eclipse

This event is made possible thanks to our sponsor BWX Technologies, and media sponsors WJJS and Living in the Heart of Virginia.

CVCC’s community partners have also supported this event, including Academy Center of the Arts’ Academy in Motion, Amazement Square, and Blue Ridge Astronomy Club.

About Central Virginia Community College

Central Virginia Community College is a two-year state college located in Lynchburg, Virginia and is part of the Virginia Community College System. Established in 1966, CVCC serves students at its main campus in Lynchburg, and its off-site centers in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell counties. The curricula and programs of the college serve more than 228,000 people within this geographical jurisdiction. With academic excellence as its aim in all areas, CVCC offers various programs to meet the diverse needs of the region it serves. Learn more about CVCC at centralvirginia.edu

About the CVCC Educational Foundation

The CVCC Educational Foundation (Foundation) was established in 1981 and is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. The Educational Foundation supports the goals and mission of CVCC by raising funds, increasing visibility, building community partnerships, and providing an engaging & accessible learning environment for academic excellence and student success.  Donations to the Foundation help to purchase state-of-the-art instructional equipment to ensure students complete CVCC programs job-ready, expand teaching innovation on campus, and support wrap-around services such as scholarships and emergency relief funds to increase student retention and graduation rates. Learn more about the Foundation at centralvirginia.edu/educational-foundation.