The Forest Preserve District of Will County is hosting a “Drop-in Solar Eclipse” program from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.
“The program will provide an opportunity for people to view the eclipse safely with NASA-approved glasses,” said Kelli Parke, an interpretive naturalist for the Forest Preserve District, adding that they will have glasses for the first 75 people.

The eclipse, the first total solar eclipse in the continental United States in 38 years, can be viewed anywhere in the country where the sun is visible, but to view it safely, people should be wearing NASA-approved eclipse glasses, she said in a news release.
Staff will be on hand to help answer questions, oversee solar eclipse activities and pass out fliers to explain what is happening in the sky.

Participants should check in at the visitor center, and are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and a picnic lunch while they watch the sun disappear behind the moon.
The moon will start to cover the sun at 11:57 a.m. and the eclipse event will last until 2:40 p.m.
“We will be able to view a partial solar eclipse for a little less than two minutes where the sun will be about 88 percent covered at 1:21 p.m. This will be a maximum sun coverage for the eclipse for our area,” Parke said.
Registration is not required for this free, all-ages event. Four Rivers is at 25055 W. Walnut Lane in McKinley Woods. The visitors center will be open for restrooms and educational information.

More information about the eclipse is on NASA’s website: www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov.
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