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Solar Eclipse & Sounding Rocket Launch Viewing

NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center, Route 175, 175 Chincoteague Rd Building J-20, Wallops Island, VA 23337
  • Date: 4/8/2024
  • Starts: 1:00 PM
  • Ends: 5:00 PM

View the solar eclipse at the NASA Wallops Visitor Center on Monday, April 8, from 1-5 p.m. EDT!

Safely witness the next solar eclipse, watch three sounding rockets launch for the APEP-2 mission, and explore engaging solar-related activities throughout the visitor center. This event will take place rain or shine.

At the NASA Wallops Visitor Center, the Moon will block a maximum of 81.4% of the Sun’s light. One sounding rocket will launch for each segment of the solar eclipse beginning around 2:40 p.m. EDT and ending around at 4:05 p.m. EDT, yielding about 45 minutes between each rocket.

Solar Eclipse Timeline:
Start – 2:06 p.m. EDT
Maximum – 3:22 p.m. EDT
End – 4:34 p.m. EDT

Do NOT look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device, not even while wearing eclipse glasses, or using a handheld solar viewer — the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury. Prepare for safe solar viewing during this year’s solar eclipse by checking out NASA’s Eclipse Safety Page: https://science.nasa.gov/.../future.../eclipse-2024/safety/

Eclipse glasses and pinhole viewers will be available during this event while supplies last.

Note: Solar eclipse viewing and rocket launch viewing are dependent upon clear skies.

For those wanting to participate virtually, a live of the sounding rocket launches will be hosted on the NASA Wallops YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/user/NASAWallops

You can also watch the official NASA Total Solar Eclipse live broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MJY_ptQW1o