With Great North American Eclipse, Carnegie Science Puts Astronomy into Action in the Lone Star State

Witnessing a total solar eclipse—when the Moon’s orbital path completely obstructs the view of the Sun in some localities—is an unforgettable, and often once-in-a-lifetime, experience. Though partial solar eclipses (and lunar eclipses of all sorts) are less unusual, the comparative rarity of total solar eclipses makes them an astronomical event capable of capturing widespread public attention. And as eclipse-related tourism has increasingly become a boon to communities around the world that find themselves in the path of totality—drawing viewers from far and wide to witness the spectacular cosmic ballet—the appetite for public engagement in the days and weeks ahead of the event only grows with each new eclipse.

The Great North American Eclipse on April 8, 2024, was no different. As it crossed a swath of the United States from South Texas to the tip of northern Maine, viewing was available in cities including Dallas, Austin, Little Rock, Indianapolis, and Cleveland. The last major solar eclipse in the United States occurred in August 2017 and was only partially visible from Carnegie Science’s home in Washington, the Earth & Planets Laboratory, though, ironically, Pasadena—home to the Carnegie Observatories—hasn’t been in a path of totality in all of our 123-year history. But Carnegie Scientists were not going to let this occasion pass without leveraging new institutional partnerships and our longstanding educational outreach apparatus to help eclipse viewers make the most of the experience.

Through a partnership with The Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, a relationship facilitated by science advocate and philanthropist Lyda Hill, more than two dozen Carnegie Science astronomers and support staff were dispatched to Texas schools, community centers, parks, children’s hospitals, and other cultural landmarks in the week preceding the eclipse. Their mission? Educate as many North Texans about the circumstances required for the astronomical phenomenon they were eagerly anticipating as possible.

In the lead-up to the big day, an elite cohort of Carnegie Science supporters flew in from across the country to celebrate, immersing themselves in Texas culture. They reveled in rodeo activities, explored the artistic and culinary influences that enliven Dallas’ social scene, and took in the unique landscape that has made the state’s agriculture and energy industries flourish. Hill, a Dallas native, offered fellow science enthusiasts a very special welcome to her hometown during an eclipse-themed dinner at the Perot Museum complete with music performances and a special appearance by the Texas Ballet Theatre. The following day brought visits to the Fort Worth Stockyards and the Perot family’s Circle T Ranch, and Carnegie Scientists Jeff Rich, Scott Sheppard, Ana Bonaca, and Guillermo Blanc led a guided viewing of the night sky before surprising guests with a fireworks display. 

The public-facing pre-eclipse activities extended far beyond those unique experiences and into the far reaches of the Dallas community. Except for the few minutes of totality, viewing the Sun with unprotected eyes can have detrimental health effects, so researchers and educators from the Perot Museum distributed one million pairs of special protective glasses and offered instruction to ensure safe viewing. Through presentations and hands-on activations in classrooms and auditoriums, Carnegie Science and Perot Museum staff visited more than 40 schools and spoke with upwards of 15,000 students, plus about 17,000 people at other outreach venues. The Perot Museum’s TECH truck program—which brings STEAM education opportunities to learners across the region in specially outfitted vehicles throughout the year—was an especially helpful tool for dispatching Carnegie researchers to local institutions.

On the day of the eclipse, Carnegie astronomers were sent to corners of the community, including the museum and a number of public parks and facilities, to answer questions and guide thousands through the viewing experience.

The occasion represented a rare opportunity for people of all ages to connect directly with professional astronomers and engage with science in their home community. Using the eclipse as a launchpad (pun intended), Carnegie astronomers instructed museum visitors and community members in other aspects of space exploration and technology, including the museum’s Mars rover exhibit. And it wasn’t only the Staff Scientists who were pitching in. The eclipse outreach team spanned generations, from astronomers who have spent decades at Carnegie, to graduate students forging their early careers under the mentorship of those scientists. One can only imagine how meaningful it must have been for community members of all ages to learn from experts close to them in age.

“A kid came up to me and said, ‘I want to be an astronomer like you when I grow up,’” said USC graduate student Ebtihal Abdelaziz. “I often feel like I know so little because there is so much to learn. But it nourished my soul to answer everyone’s burning questions.”

Meanwhile, at a Perot family estate, more than 300 Carnegie supporters and guests learned about the marvels of eclipses from President John Mulchaey over lunch. At the end of the meal, they turned their eyes—bespectacled with custom safe-viewing glasses—toward the sky, grateful for a lucky break in an otherwise cloudy day that gave them a full view of that miraculous moment. Guillermo Blanc, the Head of Scientific-Technical Development at Carnegie’s Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, was on hand to narrate the phenomenon for the observers. The wonder and power of the cosmos was felt by all as day briefly turned to night; as the crickets chirped in confusion, and birds momentarily returned to their nests.

The weeklong campaign is likely the largest single engagement event in Carnegie Science’s history, and one that was years in the making, requiring the efforts of the organization’s scientific experts, events and development staff, and communications team, among others. The tremendous public outreach effort garnered significant media attention by national and local press. Mulchaey, who was then serving as the organization’s Deputy for Science and the Director and Crawford H. Greenewalt Chair of the Carnegie Observatories, appeared live with Al Roker on The Today Show. Additional coverage appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Guardian, as well as the local NBC and NPR affiliates, among other outlets. 

“Taking our science beyond our labs and observatories and using those opportunities to help nurture future generations of researchers have long been a core component of Carnegie Science’s scientific mission,” said Mulchaey. “Our close relationship with the Perot Museum allowed us to take those efforts to the next level and capitalize on what was probably the biggest scientific event of the year. We know for certain that we touched tens of thousands of lives during that week, but I suspect the complete impact of our eclipse activities is far greater. I suspect that 15 or 20 years from now, we’ll hear one of our astronomy postdocs say, ‘I remember when Carnegie came to my school and showed me that a career in astronomy was possible.’”