Announcer:	The Missouri State Journal, a weekly program keeping you in touch with Missouri State University. 
Emily Yeap:	August 21st, 2017. This is the day when the skies across North America will darken in the afternoon as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. This great American solar eclipse of 2017 will be the first total solar eclipse in the continental United States in 38 years. In Springfield, Missouri, there will be 96% coverage, with the maximum being at 1:13 pm. Missouri State University will help to share this rare and momentous occasion with the public at a free family-friendly event on campus. I'm Emily Yeap. 
		Becky Baker, senior instructor in the department of physics, astronomy and materials science at MSU, joins me today to shed more light on the solar eclipse and the upcoming event. 
Becky Baker:	Exactly what is going on during the solar eclipse day is we have the Earth that is going around the sun, and our only natural satellite around the Earth is the moon. Every month, you have a new moon and you have a full moon, but every once in a while, everything lines up just perfect so that even though the moon is much, much smaller, it actually goes ahead and travels between the Earth and our sun. When we see that, then we actually get the shadow of the moon that is moving across the surface of the Earth, and so we have an eclipse because what's being eclipsed is the sun and it's being eclipsed by the moon. 
		Remember guys that the moon is much, much, much, much closer than what the sun is, but the same angular diameter is occurring in the sky. Luckily, because the moon's so much closer, even though it's smaller, it pretty well goes ahead and completely covers the surface of the sun when that happens. We'll see the sun gradually go away, and then we'll see the sun gradually come back. It is just a shadow of the moon simply moving across the surface of the Earth. You want to be underneath that shadow so that you will see the sun being eclipsed. 
		At the time of totality, then you should be able to hear birds singing, you should notice that yes, it is noticeably darker, and you should feel a little bit cool for the fact that the sun is not quite as bright as what it was shortly before this happened. Totality should last right there in the middle of about a minute, minute and a half, something like that. 
Emily Yeap:	Guests will receive special viewing glasses to watch the eclipse safely. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at MSU's Plaster Stadium. 
Becky Baker:	We'll have activities set up along the stadium, things that deal with the solar system, deal with what really an eclipse is, how you get ready for it, what you're going to expect. We have a tour of the solar system we're going to have set up. Just a variety of activities to get you into the mood for, "Hey, this is what's going on within our solar system, and this is the event that's going to happen today."
Emily Yeap:	Event organizers have started a Crowdfunding campaign to raise funds. Donations will go toward purchasing the viewing glasses and other expenses. 
Becky Baker:	There are several levels of our donation. For $10, you get a shout out about how we appreciate your support. If it's $25, then you can actually come on the field and look through the telescopes. If you want to donate $50, you'll be invited out to Baker Observatory. $500, then we'll get you a private tour out at Baker and looking at anything that you would like to look at in the sky, as long as it's visible. For $1,000, then you get to participate with Dr. Plavchan's activities when he is out in Hawaii looking at the IR telescope out there and kind of peep in and join him on one of his observation sessions. Then for $5,000, you can actually go ahead and participate with him in Hawaii at one of those observing sessions. 
Emily Yeap:	Baker also invites businesses to support the event. 
Becky Baker:	We would certainly encourage the businesses and industries, especially the ones that are related to science, because this is a science event. This is one way of getting across the idea that the STEM fields are important. They can go all the way from taking a table to literally help sponsor part of the event, and we will have banners saying how much we appreciate that. There's a variety of ways. I would encourage them, if you are interested as a business or an industry or a vendor, please contact me. We would definitely love to talk to you because we are looking at between 3,000 to 5,000 people coming, so it should be a great way to advertise what you all do, as well as the support that you're giving us. 
Emily Yeap:	For more information, contact Baker at 417-836-5131 or visit physics.missouristate.edu. I'm Emily Yeap for the Missouri State Journal. 
Announcer:	For more information, contact the office of University Communications at 417-836-6397. The Missouri State Journal is available online at ksmu.org.