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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2002  

Media Contact: David Perry
(415) 693-0583
news@davidperry.com

View the June 10 Solar Eclipse at Chabot Space & Science Center

Oakland -- On Monday, June 10,Chabot Space & Science Center will open from 4 pm to 8 pm for exclusive viewing of a solar eclipse visible along the Pacific Coast. The events at Chabot will include safe eclipse viewing from the Observatory Plaza and a direct feed of the eclipse from Chabot's 8-inch telescope to MATV screens in the complex. 

The afternoon program includes a special presentation in the MegaDome Theater of a "Solar Max" film, historical and cultural lore on eclipses, hands-on activities, and a 20-minute Planetarium program recreating the eclipse. Visitors will have access to Chabot's full complex, currently featuring Spaceflight: Journey to the Stars, an exhibit of space exploration artifacts on loan from NASA. Visitors will also have the chance to see daytime views of Jupiter and Saturn.

The June 10 solar eclipse is not considered a total eclipse because at its maximum (which occurs over the mid-Pacific Ocean) the Moon is far enough away from Earth that its disc will not cover the full orb of the Sun. As the Moon glides past the Sun, some sunlight will "leak" around the edges and the eclipse will appear as an annular ring of light around a coal black disc. 

Annular eclipses are not rare (one was seen in California in January 1992), yet this eclipse has some unusual properties. For one, the eclipse begins on June 11, then travels eastward and crosses the International Date Line to end on June 10th! Second, when it makes land fall just south of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the annular eclipse will occur just seconds before sunset. Viewers at Chabot Space & Science Center will see almost 72% of the sun obscured. In the Bay Area, the eclipse begins at 5:05 pm, reaches its maximum at 6:16 pm, and ends at 7:18 pm. Sunset that evening will be at 8:20 pm.

General Information
Chabot Space & Science Center is located at 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland (in Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland Hills). Normally closed on Mondays, the complex will be open on June 10th from 4 pm to 8 pm. Admission is $8.00 for adults, and $5.50 for seniors & children. Chabot Space & Science Center Members enjoy free admission to the complex and exhibits.

Tickets may be purchased at the door, or by calling (510) 336-7373. Advance tickets are also available on-line at www.ticketweb.com or by phone at (510) 601-TWEB. 

For more information, call (510) 336-7300.