The Alliance Public Library will host Dr. Peggy Norris for a special eclipse program Tuesday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the AHS Performing Arts Center. Dr. Norris is a physicist and science educator at Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. The program is free to the public.
The first total solar eclipse in the continental United States in nearly 40 years will take place on Aug. 21, 2017 and Alliance is located on the center of the path of totality. In addition to providing a brilliant sight in the daytime sky, total solar eclipses provide a rare chance for scientists to collect data only available during eclipses.
NASA is funding 11 scientific studies that will take advantage of this opportunity to study a total solar eclipse, including the Eclipse Ballooning Project. Dr. Norris is leading a team of college and high school students and teachers who will be conducting high altitude balloon flights in western Nebraska. The team includes AHS science teacher Mark Custer and several of his students.
Dr. Norris will be conducting a dry run of the balloon launch in Alliance on June 20. The balloons reach heights of up to 100,000 feet and carry video and scientific equipment. They will be broadcasting live from 20 sites along the eclipse path on August 21and will be seen on NASA TV and NASA.gov.